JAMAICA-Referendum will not be combined with elections.

KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – The Jamaica government says it does not intend to combine the Referendum related to the country’s proposed transition to a republic with either the upcoming local government or general elections.

Legal and Constitutional Affairs Minister Marlene Malahoo Forte emphasized the need to avoid any overlap with the elections, given the competitive nature of the political landscape.

She said instead, the Referendum should have a fair and unbiased process that can stand on its merit, preserving its integrity and to separate it from the general elections.

“The wisdom is that we wouldn’t want this Referendum, especially seeing it’s the first one that we’re going to hold in independent Jamaica, to be mixed up with (the elections).

“The current Constitution contemplated all of this, and having the Referendum in another Parliament is quite permissible. So, we can pass the law in this Parliament and carry the Referendum over to the next Parliament,” she added.

The Legal and Constitutional Minister noted that this approach also provides ample time for constitutional reform and public education, allowing citizens to make informed decisions during the Referendum.

The government is moving ahead with plans to introduce the Bill in the current Parliament. Malahoo Forte said the timeline depends on completing the consultations and public education efforts.

She said it is essential to take the process seriously to ensure citizens are well-informed about the proposed constitutional changes.

“It will require a lot of maturity and a mature conversation between the ruling Jamaica Labour Party and the opposition’s People’s National Party. It would be a travesty if we went to the people competing while we are on the issue of abolishing King Charles the Third as our Head of State,” Malahoo Forte said.

Apart from abolishing the constitutional monarchy and the establishment of the office of the president, phase one of the constitutional reform process aims to address the extension of the life of Parliament and the qualification criteria for parliamentary members.

Phase two will tackle matters about rights and various other vital subjects.