All hail the monarchy!
Dear Editor,
As I listened to the prime minister’s speech in Gordon House last Tuesday, I was appalled to hear him announce that he will be replacing the monarchy by 2012. He proposed several reasons why he thinks it is necessary to do so. However I strongly disagree with him.
First of all he says that becoming a republic will complete our sovereignty. I was under the impression that we are already a sovereign state and this sovereignty was guaranteed to us by the the Jamaica (Constitution) Order in Council 1962 which came at Independence.
I still fail to see how sharing the Queen with other Commonwealth Countries compromises our sovereignty in any shape or form. The Jamaica Independence Act of 1962 clearly states that “No Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom passed on or after the appointed day shall extend, or be deemed to extend, to Jamaica as part of the law thereof; and as from that day the provisions of the First Schedule to this Act shall have effect with respect to the legislative powers of Jamaica”.
I still fail to see how sharing the Queen with other Commonwealth Countries compromises our sovereignty in any shape or form. The Jamaica Independence Act of 1962 clearly states that “No Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom passed on or after the appointed day shall extend, or be deemed to extend, to Jamaica as part of the law thereof; and as from that day the provisions of the First Schedule to this Act shall have effect with respect to the legislative powers of Jamaica”.
If that is not a clear indication of our total sovereignty, then what is? What we have is not a colonial government as the prime minister would have us believe, but rather a personal union where we share a head of state with other countries. This idea is not a new one, unless of course he is suggesting that other countries such as Canada, Australia and New Zealand which do the same thing are not fully sovereign either. Mr Golding also singled out the Privy Council as another reason to get rid of the monarchy. A common misconception of republicans is that the Queen and the Privy Council go hand in hand.
The PM says he wants to add more “meaning” to the 50th anniversary celebrations. Is he saying that 50 years of being a sovereign state is not a huge milestone? Is he saying that the 50th anniversary of Independence means nothing to him simply because we have a reigning sovereign instead of a president? And correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t 2012 the same year that our Queen will be celebrating her diamond jubilee – a celebration which we will no doubt be a part of, similar to when her golden jubilee coincided with our own 40th anniversary? Isn’t 2012 the year our athletes will return to the tracks once more to bring us more Olympic glory? If those are not cause for celebation, then do you really think Golding’s reform will bring us a reason to smile?
I use this opportunity to call on all true, patriotic Jamaicans to take back their country and reject the republican model proposed by Golding.
Jason Green
SirJ_Green@hotmail.com