Jamaica to become a republic as the country prepares to mark, 50 years of Independence from Britain

Simpson Miller was sworn in to office a week after

her People’s National Party (PNP) pulled off a dramatic

general election win over the Jamaica Labour Party.

Newly appointed Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller has announced plans for the country to transition from a monarchy to a republic, removing Queen Elizabeth II as the Head of State as provided for in the Jamaica Constitution.
The decision to “initiate the process” of detachment comes as the country prepares to mark, in August, 50 years of Independence from Britain.
In a statement delivered after she took the oath of office yesterday to become the nation’s 7th Prime Minister, Simpson Miller said Jamaica “needs to complete the circle of independence” by having its “own indigenous president”.
Under the Jamaican Constitution, the Queen is represented by a Governor-General who appoints the Prime Minister.
Simpson Miller was sworn in to office a week after her People’s National Party (PNP) pulled off a dramatic 42-21 general election win over the Andrew Holness-led Jamaica Labour Party.
Stating that the country is entering a new phase, the prime minister pledged to deepen regional integration, including through the establishment of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) in its final appellate jurisdiction.
“We must full repatriate our sovereignty”, she said, while urging support from the JLP.
“Let us, together, complete this aspect of regional integration within the life of this administration,” she stated.
Barbados, Guyana and Belize are the only Caricom states that allow the CCJ to function in its appellate jurisdiction, hearing appeals and making determinations in both civil and criminal matters from common law courts.
The CCJ was formed to replace the Privy Council as the region’s final court of appeal.
Further outlining her plans for the country, Simpson Miller said her administration intends to limit spending, tackle debt and boost employment as it moves to deal with the “awesome task ahead.”
“In the short and medium term, we will use state resources to stimulate employment through the Jamaica Emergency Employment Programme (JEEP). We will do so in a transparent and non-partisan manner, to improve critical areas, such as the infrastructure and the environment, which support economic growth.
“Let me say emphatically to our business community, at home and overseas ‘we will pursue a tight fiscal policy, reduce our debt to GDP ratio, maintain the key macro-economic fundamentals, and be very careful and prudent in our debt management.’”
Simpson Miller, 66, this country’s first female prime minister initially served as head of government from 2006-07. She subsequently lost the 2007 general election to the JLP.
During yesterday’s ceremony she said she has been tested and tempered and is now a “stronger and better person.”

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Comment by joshua martin on January 9, 2012 at 3:33pm: @Leroy Bogle you talking garbage the problem in jamaica is you stupid jamaican people not the queen.the queen is the head of other countries and they are doing fine.you guys so stupid you don't want guyana rice because you think guyana would move up but it is ok we are bless your own badminded ways going to kill you.

Comment by Vinny Pat on January 9, 2012 at 2:33pm: I agree, stop trying to mimick the American ideals...YOU ARE A JAMAICAN!!!

Also, your worth is not determined by the price of your clothes...stop this brand name crap, saying you don't wear this and that and can't even send your kids to school.

Comment by Shaneece on January 9, 2012 at 1:54pm: @Mishka:Jamaica is little USA? Is that supposed to be a good thing? Jamaica is in the state its in because like almost all other Caribbean islands, we measure success by American standards. stop the f--ry, it only causing the ppl fi dead from high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer wid the fast food dem bringing there. Not to mention the increase of pollution. Why you think there are so many white ppl in the Caribbean now? Cah dem done f*c* up dem country and now wah run away by bringing their nasty ideals of what good living is to the locals.

Comment by craiglngbch on January 9, 2012 at 1:49pm: Well said Dougy Mo. I don't know where most of these peopple were getting their information from. I guess they just like to be heard. We are a small nation, but we are strong. Our detachment from Britain is long overdue.

Comment by Shaneece on January 9, 2012 at 1:43pm: if dem did line up themselves wid Eric Williams dem wouldnt be in so much bclaat debt. Too busy a run down America and England's fandangles.

Comment by Leroy Bogle on January 9, 2012 at 9:32am: Greetings to my right minded and sensible Jamaican people,and the same to all my good sense Caribbean people.it pains my heart to come on here and see the vile some misinform,misguided,idiots spill about Jamaica, especially some who claim they are from JA,B.G you is one of the worse fool come on here,that boy Joshua Ur are a swine you know nothing about Jamaica.and to carib girl don't say nothing on our behalf,you can not talk for Jamaican,no thank you,This move is a long time coming,this will not stop any country from doing business with the country or the government for that matter,unless they have ulterior motives.This is going in the right direction for our Island peoples.

Comment by Dougy Mo on January 8, 2012 at 9:30pm: It is incorrect to say that when Jamaica becomes a republic there will be no help from Great Britain or any other country. Jamaica can align itself with the Western bloc and still benefit from trade agreements and financial aid from the US, Great Britain, Canada, Australia, Europe, China, Brazil and Germany. In the past that help came with strings attached and weaker countries such as Guyana initially chose to align with Cuba and the USSR while calling themselves non-aligned. That was the reason for the economic decline in Guyana. Today, Great Britain is no longer one of the few prominent nations that can assist a struggling republic. The secret is to seek trade agreements with wealthy nations who are willing to expand their trade with Caricom and Central and South America using Jamaica as a gateway. But in all other respects Jamaica has been ready to be a self sufficient nation for many years. Congratulations to the PM for having the insight to begin this process now. It is her effective execution of the plan to create a republic that will be of importance to all of the Caribbean nations in the next years. Jamaicans, unite and stop backbiting. Negativity is the conqueror of the weak mind.

Comment by barbara glover on January 8, 2012 at 9:20pm: I AM JUST SAYING HOW HARD IT IS FOR JAMAICAN PEOPLE ARE HAVING TO FEED THEM FAMILY I HELP OTHER COUNTRY WHEN I CAN SOME PEOPLE DON'T HAVE IT I AM NOT MAKING A STATEMENT I WENT BACK HOME AND I SEE THE CONDITION HOW PEOPLE ARE LIVING

Comment by joshua martin on January 8, 2012 at 8:00pm: this lady pm just talking with no money jamaica don't have anything to sell so now she wants to beg imf .I think people are just mad listening to her.

Comment by Janet Anderson on January 8, 2012 at 1:24am: This will be one of the best steps that Jamaica needs to take as we approach our 50th year of independence.

Janet