PM Holness writes to Opposition leader, urges support for Jamaica’s Republic transition

Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness has written to Opposition Leader Mark Golding, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to Jamaica’s transition to a Republic and calling for continued collaboration on the constitutional reform process.

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In a detailed letter dated October 10, 2025, Holness recapped the timeline of discussions between the government and the opposition, emphasizing that the reform effort must be grounded in what he described as “authentic collaboration” between both sides.

Holness stressed that the meeting with Minister Chuck was intended as a preliminary step, allowing the Opposition to be briefed on the restructured Ministry and the reform agenda. “It was considered courteous, and practical as a preliminary step, for the Minister with responsibility for the portfolio you shadow, to brief you and your team accordingly,” the Prime Minister wrote.

Holness stressed that this was not a substitute for direct dialogue between both political leaders.

Holness reminded Golding that both sides had previously expressed a shared commitment to Jamaica becoming a Republic within the Commonwealth, noting Golding’s 2021 parliamentary statement that there was “consensus that this is where we need to go.”

Holness further referenced former Prime Minister P. J. Patterson’s encouragement in 2021 for urgent action on the transition, describing these expressions as a rare moment of unity that presented the nation with a real opportunity.

He also referenced the Vale Royal Talks and the formation of the Constitutional Reform Committee (CRC) in 2022, which was tasked with reviewing decades of work and engaging stakeholders on the proposed reforms. The CRC’s report, Holness said, reflected significant national effort and good-faith collaboration.

However, the Prime Minister noted that progress had stalled following disagreements over the final appellate court, with the Opposition indicating that its support for Jamaica’s transition to a Republic would be conditional on the acceptance of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ). Holness maintained that this issue should be addressed in a subsequent phase of reform, separate from the move to remove the British monarch as Jamaica’s head of state.

Reaffirming his administration’s position, Holness said the government remains ready to proceed with the Republic transition, urging both sides to “work in good faith” to achieve consensus on the remaining issues.