Elizabeth Morgan | Jamaica as a republic, would its relationship with Britain change?

When, and if, Jamaica becomes a republic, switching from being a monarchy and having King Charles III of the United Kingdom (UK/Britain) as its national Head of State, would the relationship between the two countries change? The simple answer is no, the relationship would not change in any significant way. What changes is the direct link between Jamaica and the British Monarchy.

Jamaica would continue to have diplomatic relations with the UK, of which King Charles III is their Head of State, like any other country. As a Commonwealth member, the British High Commission will remain in Kingston and the Jamaican High Commission in London. The stated intent is that Jamaica will continue its Commonwealth membership. It will also continue to associate with Britain in other international fora.

Since last year, the media in Britain, the USA and elsewhere has become very interested in Jamaica becoming a republic, ceasing to be a realm state. From some of these reports, one would get the impression that this is a momentous change which in some way will impact the relationship between Britain and Jamaica, and negatively affect the British Monarchy and the UK government.

COMMONWEALTH

The Commonwealth is a volunteer organisation of 56 independent countries. At least two members now were not colonies of Britain. The majority are republics or have their own home-grown monarchs. Only 14 realm countries remain. Eight are in the CARICOM region. These countries are Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Belize, Grenada, Jamaica, St Kitts/Nevis, St Lucia, and St Vincent and the Grenadines. All are members of the Commonwealth and were represented at the coronation service of King Charles III on Saturday, May 6, in London.

By the way, the Commonwealth is not the only organisation which brings together former colonies and colonisers. There are also the Organization Internationale de la Francophonie headquartered in Paris, France, and Organization of Ibero-American States headquartered in Madrid, Spain.

FROM INDEPENDENT MONARCHY TO REPUBLIC

When Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago became independent in August 1962, they could have chosen to be a republic or a monarchy. They both chose constitutional monarchy in the Westminster parliamentary model. Other countries, such as Ghana, Nigeria and Uganda, gaining independence in the same period, also chose monarchy.

Minister of Legal and Constitutional Affairs Marlene Malahoo Forte outlined the process for Jamaica, which unfolded in 1962, in her contribution to the sectoral debate in June 2022. Jamaica included entrenched procedures for changing the monarchy in its Constitution. Ghana, Nigeria, and Uganda, within a few years, became republics, and Trinidad and Tobago transitioned in 1976.

In December 1975, then Prime Minister Michael Manley, in an interview with the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), on a visit to London, said he thought it was time for Jamaica to transition to a republic. This statement was widely reported in the UK and in Jamaica. It generated discussions in Jamaica.

Jamaica has been on the road to becoming a republic since then. Thus, it is evident that the onus has been on Jamaica to effect this transition as it has been on the other seven CARICOM countries. Recall that beside Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana became a republic in 1970; Dominica became independent as a republic in 1978; and Barbados became a republic in 2021.

In addition, unless Jamaica takes specific action, the Judicial Committee of the UK Privy Council will remain its final court of appeal as it is for Commonwealth republics – Trinidad and Tobago, Mauritius, and Kiribati.

JAMAICA/UK RELATIONS

This month, May 19-27, will be 368 years since General Venables and Admiral Penn seized this island, as a consolation prize, from the Spanish for the British republic of Oliver Cromwell (1649-1660) in his western design. Jamaica formally became a British colony in 1670.

Since independence in 1962, Jamaica’s relationship with Britain has remained strong. On independence, there was a development aid package from Britain, though not as much as Jamaica had expected. Jamaica continued to have a secure market in Britain for its exports under the Commonwealth Scheme of Preferences which existed from 1932.

When Britain joined the European Economic Community (EEC) in 1973, it paved the way for Jamaica and other former British colonies, through the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group of States, to benefit from trade and aid arrangements under the Lomé Conventions and Cotonou Agreement. Jamaica and other CARICOM countries received development support through the European Development Fund amounting to billions of dollars.

It will be recalled that the access of ACP countries to the EU market, for the Caribbean, mainly the UK market, was challenged in the World Trade Organization between 1998 and 2008 and the EU lost.

With Britain leaving the EU in 2020, there is now a separate Caribbean (CARIFORUM) trade agreement with the UK. In 2022, according to UK statistics, Jamaica exported goods and services valued at £337 million to the UK and imported goods and services valued at £98 million. Trade between the two countries registered an increase over 2021.

The UK provides direct bilateral development aid to Jamaica for various projects and programmes and for debt relief, as well as scholarships. At the regional level, funding is provided through the Caribbean Development Bank and other institutions from which Jamaica benefits.

The UK and the Caribbean since 1997 have had a biennial meeting – the UK/Caribbean Forum. The last meeting was held electronically in 2021 and another is due this year.

So, there may be other issues arising between Britain and Jamaica resulting from their long relationship. These issues will remain on the agenda after Jamaica becomes a republic and that move is in the hands of Jamaica’s Government and its people, as it has always been since 1962.

If Caribbean realm countries today feel shackled to the British Monarchy, the evidence is showing that they are themselves responsible.

Elizabeth Morgan is a specialist in international trade policy and international politics. Email feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com