New parliamentary year begins
Published:Thursday | February 12, 2026 | 12:09 AM
The 2026-2027 parliamentary year will begin today with Governor General Sir Patrick Allen delivering the Throne Speech at George William Gordon House, the seat of Jamaica’s bi-cameral legislature.
In his presentation, the head of state is expected to highlight the Holness administration’s policies and programme for the legislative year.
The ceremonial opening of Parliament is characterised by pomp and pageantry, with the First Battalion The Jamaica Regiment giving the Royal Salute, after which the governor general inspects the Guard of Honour.
The country is expected to hear when the Government will retable the Constitution (Amendment) (Republic) Bill, 2024 which fell off the Order Paper at the end of the last parliamentary term.
Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness did not reappoint Marlene Malahoo Forte to lead the constitutional reform process, but placed that responsibility in the Ministry of Justice, led by Delroy Chuck.
During the last parliamentary term, the Opposition had boycotted a joint select committee which was established to review the constitutional amendment bill.
The Opposition had declared that it would not participate in the deliberations unless the Government moved to secede from the United Kingdom-based Privy Council, while at the same time break with the British monarchy.
Following today’s ceremonial opening of Parliament, which is expected to get under way about 10:30 a.m., the House of Representatives will meet at 2 p.m. to table the Estimates of Expenditure, which sets out government spending for the 2026-2027 fiscal year.