Many Jamaicans want to remove King Charles as their head of state, but a bill introduced by the government to achieve this has frustrated some critics who believe the country should go even

further in cutting colonial ties.

Although Jamaica gained independence in 1962, it still recognizes the British monarch as its head of state, just like 13 other former British colonies. Public opinion has been shifting over the years, and in December, Prime Minister Andrew Holness's government introduced a bill to remove King Charles from this role.

Jamaica’s history is deeply tied to transatlantic slavery, with hundreds of thousands of enslaved Africans brought to the island. Many scholars and activists argue that the lasting effects of slavery and colonialism have contributed to social and economic inequalities. The increasing demand for reparations from African and Caribbean nations has further fueled the region’s desire to break ties with the monarchy.

So far, Britain has rejected calls for reparations. As for the monarchy’s role, Buckingham Palace has maintained that it is up to each nation’s people and politicians to decide their future. During a visit to the Bahamas in 2022, Prince William, now heir to the throne, expressed his support for any decision Caribbean nations make regarding their governance.

The proposed bill, which could be debated in parliament as early as this month or next, would require a referendum for final approval. However, some critics, including the opposition People's National Party (PNP), have raised concerns about how the future president would be selected, their role, and which court should serve as Jamaica's highest legal authority.

Steven Golding, president of the Universal Negro Improvement Association—founded by Jamaican civil rights leader Marcus Garvey—stressed that removing the monarchy must not be just symbolic. “We don’t want to simply replace a British monarch with a ceremonial president,” he said, advocating instead for a directly elected executive president.

The push to remove the monarchy gained momentum after Barbados became a republic in 2021, removing the late Queen Elizabeth as its head of state. During Prince William’s visit in 2022, Holness made it clear that Jamaica was moving towards becoming fully independent.

A 2022 survey by pollster Don Anderson showed that 56% of Jamaicans supported removing the monarch, a significant increase from 40% a decade earlier.

A President as Head of State

Under the government’s proposed plan, the governor general—who currently represents the British monarch—would be replaced by a president nominated by the prime minister in consultation with the opposition leader. If they fail to agree, the opposition leader can propose a candidate. If no agreement is reached, the prime minister could select a nominee who would then need a simple majority vote in parliament.

PNP spokesperson Donna Scott-Mottley described removing the monarchy as "the final birth of a true nation" but argued that the proposed selection process for the president was flawed. “If the prime minister wanted a close ally to become president, they could simply make the nomination,” she told Reuters.

Former Prime Minister P. J. Patterson also criticized the proposal, saying it would result in a president who is merely a “puppet of the prime minister.”

The government has not responded to these criticisms.

The Debate Over Full Decolonization

The bill is likely to pass in the lower house, where the ruling Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) holds a two-thirds majority. However, in the upper house, at least one opposition vote will be required for approval. Even if the bill is rejected there, the government can still put it to a national referendum, which would require two-thirds of the public vote to pass.

A general election later this year may cause delays in the process.

Another major issue is Jamaica’s highest court of appeal. Currently, Jamaicans must appeal to the London-based Privy Council, a costly and bureaucratic process that requires a visa to travel to Britain. Critics argue that Jamaica should follow the lead of Barbados, Belize, and Guyana by adopting the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) instead.

The Jamaican government has said court-related issues will be addressed later in a "phased reform," allowing Jamaicans to provide input.

Political and social psychology professor Christopher Charles compared keeping the Privy Council to "wanting a divorce but keeping a room in the matrimonial home." Scott-Mottley also called it "anachronistic" to remove King Charles as head of state while still relying on his court.

Haile Mika’el Cujo, an advocate for constitutional change, warned that keeping the Privy Council could discourage voters from supporting the referendum: "People are not going to sign off on that."

Due to disagreements over the Privy Council, the PNP has paused its participation in the committee working on the bill.

PNP leader Mark Golding emphasized the need for a complete break from colonial influence, stating, “The time has come for full decolonization—not a piecemeal, partial, or phased approach.” Photo by Raychristofer, Wikimedia commons.