Malahoo Forte to outline monarchy reform road map
Published:Tuesday | June 7, 2022 | 12:11 AM
Minister of Legal and Constitutional Affairs Marlene Malahoo Forte, QC, is expected today to unveil the Holness administration’s legislative plans to break with the British monarchy and to establish Jamaica as a republic.
With the establishment of the Ministry of Legal and Constitutional Affairs in January, Prime Minister Andrew Holness had signalled that the new minister had a major task ahead of her to reform Jamaica’s laws to begin the process of reviewing the country’s Constitution.
At a post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House in April, Malahoo Forte made it clear that Jamaicans should not build up their hopes for a transition from the monarchy this year to coincide with the 60th anniversary of Independence in August.
The legislative process to achieve republic status and break with the monarchy involves changes to deeply entrenched provisions in the Constitution which trigger a three-month period between the date when the bill is tabled in Parliament and the start of the debate.
Additionally, at the end of the debate, the bill would remain on the table of the House of Representatives for another three months before lawmakers could give the nod to the proposed statute.
Further, for the bill to be passed, there has to be a two-thirds majority in the Lower and Upper Houses.
The next step is for the electorate to register a vote on the issue in a national referendum.
Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport Olivia Grange will also make her contribution to the Sectoral Debate today.
Tomorrow, Leader of Government Business and Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett will close the debate for 2022-2023.