Dear Editor,

The constitutional reform matters appear to be dragging along. It might be years before we see any changes to laws, and we now understand that multiple referendums will be part of the process.

Minister Marlene Malahoo Forte at the Jamaica Observer Monday Exchange called for urgent debate, ” ‘That’s why I am hoping to balance [everything], because next thing you try to be disciplined and people tell you that you are a dictator because you’re trying to push it through,’ the Minister added. Malahoo Forte went on to say, “I want to table my Bill next month and it flows from there. If we don’t get the Bill in the Parliament, it doesn’t matter what other timeline we set. Let us get the Bill [through] because it’s the Bill the people must vote on, and it is the referendum that will make the change,’ Malahoo Forte said.”

It might be years before these Bills are passed. If the referendum yields a negative result, it would set us back even further. Understandably, these are important legal matters, but other countries in the region have done it successfully, the learning curve should be easier.

Barbados, for example, held a referendum in 1979, but it was decided not to change the constitution at that time. Years later, as the momentum grew to move away from the monarchy, they decided to hold another referendum, but after many years of deferral Prime Minister Mia Mottley decisively announced in 2020 that Barbados would remove The Queen as head of State by the following year and “fully leave our colonial past behind”.

Mottley used her majority in the House to pass the Bill to replace the monarch with a president on November 30, 2021. A Constitutional Reform Committee was formed to recommend amendments to the constitution and this process is still ongoing. In essence, Barbados made the move in two phases. In Jamaica, we argue, squabble, make errors, and move slowly.

Other countries in the region that transitioned to republics without referendums include Guyana, Trinidad, and Dominica, and they all did so in the 1970s.

So why do we need a referendum? Why are we moving these important matters at such a slow pace? An election is a vote of confidence for direction and support of policies, principles, and strategies. A party which relies on a separate referendum is indecisive and trying to gain political mileage to score points.

Both parties already agreed on removing the monarchy years ago, both represent the majority, who entrusted them to use their expertise and consult with the best legal minds to make sound political and legal decisions in their best interest. Polls have been executed in recent years showing most (close to two-thirds) favour the removal of the monarchy.

Jamaican politicians have been debating this forever. Last year, when the royals visited, there were numerous protests and negative press, which were linked to our colonial past and the growing anti-monarchy sentiments, about the visit. What else would a referendum tell us? The Government favours a referendum as they nervously try to move ahead, the Opposition stated their position and would like to proceed. The monarch’s role is largely ceremonial, but everything we do is in his majesty’s service and remains a link to our colonial past.

We’ve been independent since 1962, and some decisions don’t need a referendum; consultation, yes, but let us be more decisive and stop lingering behind like lost souls.

P Chin

chin_p@yahoo.com