Jamaica’s Chief Parliamentary Counsel has reported back on the changes required to transition Jamaica to a republic:

She explained that the Constitution (Amendment) (Republic of Jamaica) Bill provides for the Constitution of Jamaica’s recognition as an Act of the Parliament and people of Jamaica; and amends the Constitution of Jamaica to provide for a non-monarchical head of state, thereby establishing Jamaica as a republic; provides for other amendments in respect of certain provisions of the Constitution of Jamaica and connected matters.

The Referendum Bill provides for the votes of electors to be taken concerning any amendment of the Constitution of Jamaica required to be submitted to electors, pursuant to Section 49 of the Constitution.

The Jamaican government is at pains to emphasise that the changes, to be put to the people through a referendum, are not to an executive head of state, but a non-executive head of state:

Cabinet’s decision to retain the parliamentary cabinet system, “was the clearest indication that we were not moving to the executive presidential system”.

She stated that the British Monarch is to be replaced with a non-executive president as the formal head of state of the Republic of Jamaica.

A copy of the Bill is not yet available online.