JAMAICA |Removing the King must also involve removing his Privy Council says NIA

MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica May 25, 2024 - The National Integrity Action (NIA), says amending the Jamaican Constitution without the involvement of every Jamaican is ill-omened and ill-conceived.

Principal Director  of the NIA, Ms Danielle Archer, in a statement has called on the government to fully involve all Jamaicans BEFORE amending any aspect of the current Constitution. We still have an opportunity to do the right thing.

The National Integrity Action says it has taken note of the concerns regarding the Leader of the Opposition holding British citizenship.

However, she said “this is permitted by Jamaican Law, which also requires that both the Governor General, the King's Representative and the Prime Minister swear loyalty to the King of the United Kingdom.

In the statement, Ms Archer said “It is crucial to recognize that the act of removing the King does not sufficiently guarantee the loyalty of our leaders to the people of Jamaica.”

“The transition from a constitutional monarchy must include a solemn commitment to the Jamaican people and not the Parliament of Jamaica. It also requires the removal of the Final Court of Appeal from Britain.

“It is ethically unsound to remove the King and still expect the Privy Council, appointed by the King, to dictate the application and interpretation of Jamaican Law. This essentially grants another country authority to dictate Jamaica's laws.

The issue of whether dual nationals should participate in the governance of the people of Jamaica is not a matter to be determined by the Parliament without its members actively seeking the opinions of those they represent. This issue also affects Jamaicans within the diaspora, and we should fairly consider their views.

Constitutional reform is not the sole purview of the government and those hand-picked by the government. Rather, it is a collective responsibility that should include comprehensive education of the public about the many areas covered by the Constitution.

This will empower every Jamaican to understand and contribute to what they want the Constitution to include. Town halls are insufficient. The methods used by the political parties when conducting election campaigns should be employed to reach every Jamaican about the Constitution. This gives them an opportunity to participate.

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