Queen Elizabeth can breath a sigh of relief. Chances are by the end of this year she is still Queen of Jamaica and Queen of Barbados. It looks like both independent Caribbean island states will not carry out their plans to abolish the monarchy and exchange it for a republic. In both countries the Labour Party has been less than enthusiastic about the proposal, famously questioning in Jamaica's case “how [a Jamaican] Queen would help end poverty.”
Jamaica on Thursday welcomed a new Prime Minister, Labour-leader Andrew Holness who asked that pointed question four years earlier when then Prime Minister Potia Simpon-Miller was preparing the Caribbean nation for a switch to a republican form of government.
“I am the biggest fan of Queen Elizabeth. She is a wonderful woman and I have a lot of love and respect for her, but it is after 50 years of independence time we settle our own affairs”, she said in an interview with the Jamaica Observer.
Holness though has different priorities. “The priority of this government is to grow the economy and create meaningful jobs,” he said in his inauguration speech in Kingston. “In so doing we will more rapidly and sustainably reduce debt.”
The new Prime Minister had also a different view of what form of republic Jamaica should become – one with a ceremonial president or an executive president. Simpson-Miller and her People's National Party supported the former option, Holness and Labour the latter: a ceremonial president with limited powers.
Simpson-Miller, who lost her position by the narrowest of margins (JLP 32 seats, PNP 31) never carried out her desired reform, also because she did not have the required two-thirds majority in both houses of Parliament, which means Jamaica will remain one of Her Majesty's realms for the foreseeable future.
BARBADOS
Barbados looks to be the same story. Prime Minister Freundel Stuart announced last year March that he envisioned his country becoming a republic before the 50th anniversary of independence on November 30, 2016. “Decolonization has to be finished, and a republican form comes with it”, he told his party's faithful.
With only eight months left till Independence Day Mr Stuart still has not followed up on his plans, as Barbados Today pointed out in an article in January: 'And whither Mr Stuart’s republic plan?'
The paper questioned the Prime Minister's silence: “There are many Barbadians, we are quite sure, who were expecting Prime Minister Freundel Stuart to update the nation on his republic plan when he addressed the launch of an almost year-long celebration of the island’s 50th Independence anniversary. That he did not was obviously a disappointment.” Adding: Given his silence and the fact that there are just 11 months remaining to the 50th Independence anniversary on November 30, a pertinent question does arise. Is the plan still on, or is it off?
The paper continued: “Stuart’s announcement almost a year ago was a statement of intention. However, effecting the change requires the support of a two-thirds parliamentary majority which the incumbent DLP does not have.
The support of the Opposition, therefore, would be necessary. If such support is not forthcoming from the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) which has made it clear there are more pressing issues to be addressed, the plan is effectively stalled.”
Which means Barbados too will remain one of Her Majesty's realms for the foreseeable future. A fitting birthday present for a Queen 'long to reign over us'.
© RB Hans Jacobs
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