Dear Mr/Mrs. Editor, The road to becoming a republic is not an easy one but the Andrew Holness led Government has long been coming under significant pressure to do it. As a student of Social Studies, it's 101 to know that the Queen is our Head of State but what does that mean for us? Will removing the Queen of England as head of state change the behaviour of highly insensitive, incompetent and oppressive governments, who sometimes seem worse than the colonisers themselves? I think not. Does it mean the Queen takes care of us? Not necessarily. Does it mean the Queen runs the country? Absolutely not. Does it mean the dollars of taxpayers are going to the Queen? Only when she's acting as Queen of Jamaica or in Jamaica. So what is the necessity of the Queen? Now that's a long story. Which started all the way back from 1655 when the British first colonized Jamaica. Since being granted independence in 1962 by the British Parliament the Queen has been embedded in our constitution. Students' Council members and law students of all people know how important an organization's constitution is, it's the same idea when it's in a country. I personally don't believe Jamaica is ready to 'move on' from the British as Head of State, our independence as it stand is merely symbolic, we are probably one of the most dependent independent nation as is seen with our entire economy almost collapsing with the halt of tourism (people including Britons visiting our island). When Jamaica becomes truly independent, that's what it must be, "true". We should not be "independent but.." but anyway people look forward to Jamaica becoming a republic because it gives us a sense of pride, I just hope our attorneys are ready to give up the pride they get with "Queen's Counsel" and maybe even our Justices of the Peace. It's a long road to independence, that will start by major constitutional reforms, in order for a bill to be passed and turned into law it must be agreed upon by both opposition and government in the Senate after being moved up from the lower house before the Governor General acting on behalf of the Queen signs it into law. Similar to what happens in the Students' Council before the Principal signs a Council proposal/school-wide policy into effect/law. Which means both parties will have to agree, and although both the JLP and PNP agree apparently on removing the Queen, they probably disagree with who should do the job and so of course the opposition will more than likely oppose to delay the Government's efforts and dilute what might be a political strategy of the Government as independence day celebrations approach. Major parts of the constitutional amendment that we'll have to consider are what will happen to the Governor General's office? Will taxpayers still have to pay for a diplomatic figure Head or will the country assume an Executive President/Prime Minister making them the Head of State instead? Sounds pretty. Then the most important reconstruction of all, the judiciary committee of the Privy Council. We surely cannot intend to be independent and remove the Queen as Head of State and still subject ourselves to her Advisory Council for final talks on appeal. Then what happens with the Commonwealth? It sounds hypocritical to cut ties with relics of slavery (Queen) whilst benefiting from the comradery of the community of former slave colonies still headed by the Queen, sounds like 6 and half a dozen to me. As mentioned the glamour of Queen's Counsel might change and if the Governor General's gone so will the terms Justice of the Peace (they might just rename it Notary Publics or something). Another hypothetical thought, is that Britain can just plainly say 'no.' LOL. To be the Queen of Jamaica and Bahamas is to be the Queen of the a Caribbean, Britain would do everything in its power to stop it if you ask me. Imagine a revolt in 2022. Not saying Jamaica should never remove the Queen just saying I would not support a referendum on the issue if we by ourselves cannot even design a more equitable, safe, prosperous and civilized society for all of Jamaica. Instead of the constant running off of our mouths let us give real power to the people. -Gabrielle Williams Grade 11 Social Studies student | Students' Council Senator
Comments