Jamaica is set to loosen colonial ties with Britain by moving to replace the Queen as head of state with a president, the country's new prime minister has indicated.
"I love the Queen. She's a beautiful lady," Simpson Miller told 10,000 guests on Thursday at the residence of Jamaica's governor-general, the Queen's representative on the island. Switching to patois, she added: "But I think time come."
The move reflects an accelerating drift towards republicanism among Commonwealth Caribbean countries. Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago have both dropped the Queen as head of state, while opting to remain in the Commonwealth.
Capital punishment is another bone of contention for Jamaica, which has one of the world's highest murder rates, with violent crime a daily occurrence. This week Simpson Miller vowed to introduce reforms to make the Caribbean court of justice the final appeal court in all criminal matters. The move would repatriate Jamaica's sovereignty fully, she said.
Sources:
The Guardian
"I love the Queen. She's a beautiful lady," Simpson Miller told 10,000 guests on Thursday at the residence of Jamaica's governor-general, the Queen's representative on the island. Switching to patois, she added: "But I think time come."
The move reflects an accelerating drift towards republicanism among Commonwealth Caribbean countries. Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago have both dropped the Queen as head of state, while opting to remain in the Commonwealth.
Capital punishment is another bone of contention for Jamaica, which has one of the world's highest murder rates, with violent crime a daily occurrence. This week Simpson Miller vowed to introduce reforms to make the Caribbean court of justice the final appeal court in all criminal matters. The move would repatriate Jamaica's sovereignty fully, she said.
Sources:
The Guardian
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