Legal Minister Marlene Malahoo Forte defends Jamaica's constitutional reform progress against critics who question the republic transition timeline. The government has advanced further than previous administrations through tabling the Constitution Amendment Republic Bill 2024 and amending Section 61. Opposition members withdrew from the Joint Select Committee review process after disagreements about appellate court discussions. Prime Minister Andrew Holness accused the People's National Party of sabotaging republican efforts through their committee departure.
Constitutional requirements mandate lengthy procedures with two three-month waiting periods plus parliamentary debate time and public referendum approval. The Constitutional Reform Committee released recommendations while the December 2024 bill introduction began formal legislative review. Malahoo Forte emphasized that replacing the British Monarch with a Jamaican President remains a shared national objective despite political disagreements. Public education campaigns will continue transparently to engage citizens both domestically and internationally about the constitutional changes ahead.
Constitutional requirements mandate lengthy procedures with two three-month waiting periods plus parliamentary debate time and public referendum approval. The Constitutional Reform Committee released recommendations while the December 2024 bill introduction began formal legislative review. Malahoo Forte emphasized that replacing the British Monarch with a Jamaican President remains a shared national objective despite political disagreements. Public education campaigns will continue transparently to engage citizens both domestically and internationally about the constitutional changes ahead.
