JAMAICA- The Government remains committed to constitutional reform

KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – Prime Minister Andrew Holness says the Government remains optimistic about the prospects for Jamaica’s transition from a constitutional monarchy to a republic.

While noting that the process has not gone as he had expected, in relation to the anticipated stakeholder support, Holness said the Government still hopes for constitutional transformation to be achieved.

“It has not gone quite as I had expected; we needed to have the support of the Opposition, and we still hold out hope that maybe we can actually do this. We will carry it as far as we can, hoping to reach some understanding and consensus. It is truly my wish for Jamaica to become a republic,” he stated.

The Prime Minister, speaking at the Jamaica Civil Service Association’s (JCSA) 105th annual general meeting last week, said constitutional reform is one of the major transformational projects being undertaken by the Government.

He noted that Jamaica’s observance of 60 years of Independence presented a fitting moment for constitutional reform. Other leaders, including former Prime Ministers, also made public statements encouraging the move to become a republic.

During his presentation, Holness listed several other nation-building and transformational projects being undertaken by the Government, all of which aim to transform Jamaicans’ lives.

The projects covered road infrastructure, health care, education, national security, unemployment and training, the economy and fiscal management, housing and urban renewal, transformation of the public sector, and productivity.

“I use the term nation-building projects. These are not short-term projects, meaning the impact is not for five years. The things we are attempting to do will set the foundation for the country for the next 50 to 100 years.”

“This is the first time that the country has been in a position to plan longer than a five-year cycle. The danger with planning outside of a five-year cycle is that you probably will do things that are not popular to get you re-elected, but you definitely will do the things to ensure that the country will be on a solid footing. People won’t appreciate them right away, but on reflection, they will understand what we are doing,” he added.

A report from the Constitutional Reform Committee was tabled in Parliament recently.