[2] The People's Freedom Movement, an extra-parliamentary opposition party, suggested that the constitution include a provision for a referendum on a republic at a later date, but this was not carried out.
[4] The first Jamaican prime minister to make steps towards a republic was Michael Manley, whose People's National Party (PNP) came to power at the 1972 general election.
His government established a commission into constitutional reform in 1975, and in July 1977, following a march to commemorate the Morant Bay rebellion, Manley announced that Jamaica would become a republic by 1981.
[5] In 2002, the Parliament of Jamaica, with the PNP, led by P. J. Patterson, holding the plurality of seats, abolished the requirement for public servants to take an oath of allegiance to the Jamaican monarch.
The opposition JLP was against that decision (which would also have required a constitutional amendment) and made their support for republicanism conditional on a referendum being held for the judicial changes, which was not forthcoming.
[7] Portia Simpson-Miller, the PNP leader and new prime minister, also publicly affirmed her commitment to republicanism, stating a preference for an elected president.
[12] The Minister of Legal and Constitutional Affairs, Marlene Malahoo Forte, announced that the transition is to be completed by the time of next general election, currently scheduled to be in 2025.
[16] In February 2024, the government announced in the Throne Speech that the legislative priorities for the next parliamentary year will focus on "amendments towards establishing the Republic of Jamaica".
[27] An Ashcroft poll conducted in February and March 2023 showed that 49% of respondents supported the country becoming a republic, with 40% opposing and 11% not knowing or would not vote.