With time running short in the current parliamentary cycle, Jamaica’s long-delayed push toward republican status is once again under the spotlight, as Justice Minister Delroy Chuck renews public appeals for bipartisan cooperation on constitutional reform.
Speaking at a formal commissioning event for justices of the peace in downtown Kingston, Chuck made a pointed call for Opposition Leader Mark Golding to return to the table and help finalize the constitutional changes needed to sever ties with the British monarchy. “If we do not act decisively by next year,” Chuck warned, “this term may end without accomplishing what both parties have agreed on for decades.”
A Stalemate Revisited
The comments follow months of stalled dialogue between the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) administration and the Opposition People’s National Party (PNP). Despite both parties publicly endorsing republican transition, deep divisions remain—notably over the final appellate court Jamaica should adopt once the Privy Council is replaced.
While the PNP insists that the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) should be enshrined as the final court, the JLP continues to oppose that view, pushing instead for the establishment of a homegrown, sovereign final court. The Government has also suggested a phased approach to the transition, a strategy that the Opposition has not fully embraced.
Earlier correspondence between Prime Minister Andrew Holness and Opposition Leader Golding illustrates the rift. Golding had declined a meeting with Chuck, signaling a preference to engage directly with the Prime Minister. Holness, in turn, stated that having Chuck initiate talks was a procedural step, not a substitution for a leader-to-leader dialogue. However, that clarification has not bridged the deadlock.
Reform by Referendum
Chuck reiterated the Government’s position that Jamaica’s final court of appeal should be a matter for the people to decide via referendum. He also noted that constitutional matters beyond the court debate—such as fixed election dates and term limits—are being sidelined by the current impasse.
“Let’s begin with what we agree on,” Chuck urged, highlighting that the monarchy’s removal has long had cross-party support. He cautioned that delays could push any potential referendum into the next general election season, rendering it politically impractical.
“No government will risk a referendum on monarchy reform during an election year,” Chuck noted, emphasizing the urgency for action before 2028.
Political Stakes
While both the JLP and PNP affirm the importance of republican transition, political positioning and differing legal philosophies continue to obstruct what should be a landmark moment in Jamaica’s post-independence journey. Chuck made it clear that allowing court debates to overshadow broader constitutional consensus would risk derailing the entire effort.
“If we let one disagreement paralyze the entire process, then the Jamaican people lose,” he concluded.
With 2027 posited as a potential referendum year, the Government hopes to begin legislative amendments as early as next year. Whether political cooperation can be reignited in time remains uncertain—but the window is narrowing fast.
