Critical discussions around monarchy
Published:Monday | December 13, 2021 | 12:07 AM
THE EDITOR, Madam:
The discussions around Jamaica moving to become a republic is prominent right now. Before we move in that direction, I would like to offer some thoughts on this subject.
1. Pre-Independence, both Busta and Norman vehemently “opposed any total separation from the monarchy”.
2. The PNP administration under Michael Manley, was the first administration under Michael, to formally state the intention of Jamaica becoming a republic.
And here I quote – not my opinion – “Manley was the first Jamaican prime minister to support Jamaican republicanism [sic, the replacement of the constitutional monarchy with a republic]. In 1975, his government established a commission into constitutional reform, which recommended that Jamaica become a republic.”
3. Here I quote again, “In 2002, the PNP Government, led by P.J. Patterson, abolished the requirement for public servants to take an oath of allegiance to the monarch.”
Do I need to quote regarding the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) or to state the importance of the “ a priori Rule of Law” in any democracy? And some may wonder if it is this CCJ which Barbados is going to employ!
Can anyone recall the joke regarding Busta advising the premier of Barbados how to lend full support to Britain? Busta said, “Tell the Queen, ‘Go ahead England. ‘Little England’ is backing you all the way’.”
4. Do I need to quote Portia? Or maybe one can now understand her exclamation in Patois, “Time come,” during an official speech.
5. Meanwhile, Eddie from his get-go, while accepting the policy issues offered no objection to the policy itself, but opposed how it was to be implemented, making it clear that even with two-thirds majority in both Houses, there shall be a referendum. To date, as far as I know, the 2009 constitutional amendment has not changed.
Here, it is interesting to note how nowadays, politicians in opposition oppose everything – policy, obligations – on the grounds that if they agree with anything the party in power puts forward, “then people won’t see any difference and know who to vote for”.
6. Bruce Golding offered no opposition, but then again, he didn’t last long enough to gather any foothold in any aspect of governance.
7. Concerning our current prime minister, let me state here what I dreamt. I dreamt that while on the election trail in 2016, our prime minister had said he would revisit and/or reignite the likelihood of the subject of ‘referendum.
If my dream was correct or not, our prime minister’s recent “more attention” had to be directed to his Cabinet, as they now form the Government. And, all things being equal, our democratic state and its social and economic infrastructure, while still a “work in progress, and thanks to all our leaders to date,” is still an envy in and outside of the region.
CALVIN GRAY