The Advocates Network is urging the Jamaican Government to ‘act now’ in its quest to remove the United Kingdom’s new monarch, King Charles III, as the island’s head of state.

“TIME COME!!! The loud cry of the Jamaican people, more strongly amplified internationally since the death of the Queen, is to finally remove the monarch as Head of State,” The Advocates Network said in a statement released this morning.

According to the Advocates Network, though it has been six months since Prime Minister Andrew Holness’ most recent declaration – during the visit of Prince William ahead of Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations – of the Government’s intention to become a republic, no plans or progress has been made.

The Network noted that the 2022-2023 budget had taxpayers funding more than J$500 million for the new Ministry of Legal and Constitutional Affairs, established in January.

The main stated objective of that ministry has been to reform the Constitution and enable the transition of Jamaica to a republic, free of colonial ties.

“We note with great concern that, over these eight months, there has been no agenda, plan, nor strategy to achieve this objective,” said the Network.

It added that there has also been no update on a promise from Marlene Malahoo Forte, minister of legal and constitutional affairs, to establish the Constitutional Reform Committee (CRC), despite her assurance to the country’s citizens that they would have received an update in June of this year.

“The Advocates Network urges the Government to ACT NOW! It has been more than 27 years since the Joint Select Committee on Constitutional and Electoral Reform agreed to remove the Monarch as head of State.”

The Network is also calling for the Government to immediately provide a timeline for the establishment of the CRC, launching of public education programmes on the process of transition and tabling the required legislative bill in Parliament before Jamaica’s 61st anniversary of Independence next year.