How long should a breakup take? Well, if you’re Jamaica and your ex is the British monarchy… apparently a few centuries. But finally, big changes are in motion. In 2024, the Jamaican government took its most serious step yet to ditch the British monarch as head of state and replace King Charles III with a Jamaican president.
The Constitution (Amendment) Republic Act 2024 was introduced in Parliament late last year. The proposed bill outlines Jamaica’s shift from constitutional monarchy to full republic—meaning a local president will take over ceremonial duties currently held by the King. This would make Jamaica’s leadership fully Jamaican, from top to bottom.
But it’s not as easy as waving goodbye with a patois-laced “Likkle more, King Charles.” To make this happen, the bill needs support from two-thirds of Parliament and a national referendum. The government is pushing to complete the process before the next general election in 2025.
Still, there are hurdles. The opposition People’s National Party wants to simultaneously ditch the UK’s Privy Council and embrace the Caribbean Court of Justice. Others argue the proposed president would be too symbolic and want a more robust role for the new head of state. And then there’s the public—support for becoming a republic has wavered, dropping to about 33% in 2025.
But one thing’s certain: Jamaica is ready to stand fully on its own two feet. No more inherited crowns, no more colonial ties in its governance. Whether the referendum passes or not, the conversation marks a major moment in the island’s history.
So the next time you hear “One Love,” it just might be directed at the Jamaican people—ruling themselves, by themselves, for themselves.
#RepublicOfJamaica #JamaicaPolitics #ByeByeMonarchy
