The country's government is considering the possibility of declaring a republic.
During a visit to Jamaica by British Prince William and his wife Duchess Kate, the country's Prime Minister Andrew Gollness said that his country is striving to become independent.
Associated Press reports.
In a conversation with Prince William, Prime Minister Gollness said Jamaica intends to “realize its real ambition to become an independent, fully developed and prosperous country.” According to him, there are problems in relations between Britain and Jamaica that have remained unresolved.
The head of the government of Jamaica said that the country will look for a way to become a republic. Representatives of the royal family, standing on both sides of Gollness, when he made this statement, reacted to these words only by nodding their heads.
Jamaica is part of the British Commonwealth and is formally headed by the British Queen Elizabeth II. However, according to experts, the changes will last for years and must be confirmed by a referendum. The declaration of a republic in Barbados was much faster, as only a parliamentary resolution was enough.
The former British colony will become only the second Caribbean island to break off relations with Queen Elizabeth II in recent years – the island of Barbados did this in November 2021.
The announcement by the Prime Minister came as a surprise to many on the island of nearly 3 million people.
During a visit by members of the British royal family, demonstrations took place in Jamaica calling on the UK to apologize for their colonial rule over the island, which lasted about 300 years, and to pay for reparations.
It is estimated that about 600,000 people of African descent were taken to the island during British rule. Then they had to work in inhuman conditions on plantations owned by the British.
Recall that earlier the island nation of Barbados, located in the Caribbean region, announced its withdrawal from the power of the British crown.
