After Barbados, will Jamaica and Belize break away from the British crown? Leaders of these two states, Commonwealth countries, of which Charles III is king, showed Thursday, May 4 their desire to become republics, in interviews published two days before the coronation of the British sovereign.
” The time has come. Jamaica in Jamaican Hands »Jamaican Minister for Constitutional Affairs Marlene Malahoo Forte told Sky News. She explained that Kingston is considering holding a referendum on the issue as early as next year.
In an interview with the British newspaper The Guardianthe prime minister of Belize, Johnny Briceño, said he was ” very likely “ that his country would be the next to become a republic. The government of Belize passed a law last year aimed at creating a constitutional commission which must study several avenues of reform, including the transformation of the country into a republic.
“Many Jamaicans had a warm affection for Queen Elizabeth II”explained for his part Mme Malahoo Forte. “But they don’t identify with King Charles. He is the most foreign to us”. Referring to the relationship ” complex “ between the two countries, she felt that becoming a republic came down “to say goodbye to a form of government that is linked to a painful past of colonization and slave trade”.
Memory of slavery
During a trip by Prince William to the Caribbean in early 2022, Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness had already judged ” inevitable “ his country’s transition to a republican regime. William and his wife Kate’s tour had resulted in a difficult confrontation marred by protests, and the couple had been called upon to apologize for the UK’s slavery past.
It is also the memory of slavery that the Prime Minister of Belize highlights, vigorously criticizing the refusal of his British counterpart, Rishi Sunak, to apologize for the role of the United Kingdom in the triangular trade. “I think he should take the moral responsibility to at least apologize.”he said.
The Royal Family has never formally apologized, with Charles merely calling slavery a “terrible atrocity”while William had expressed his “deep sadness”.
Questioned last week in Parliament, Rishi Sunak said he would not apologize on behalf of the United Kingdom. “I think we should focus, of course, on understanding our history in all its components, and not deviating from it, but making sure that today we have an inclusive and tolerant society for people from all backgrounds. »he said.
Republican tendencies are increasingly strong in certain Commonwealth realms which want to follow the example of Barbados, which became a republic in 2021. After the death of Queen Elizabeth II, the Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda had he also declared his intention to organize a referendum on the subject “in the next three years”.
