Jamaica will become a republic, new prime minister vows (Grauniad)

[Anarcho-Socialist]

After taking office in landslide, Portia Simpson Miller pledges to drop Queen as head of state and restore prosperity

Portia Simpson Miller has been sworn in for the second time as Jamaica's prime minister with a pledge to ease poverty, boost the economy, heal political divisions and drop the Queen as head of state.

(snip)

The 66-year-old politician scored a dramatic victory in last week's national elections, leading her centre-left People's National party to a 2-1 margin in parliament over the centre-right Jamaica Labour party. Her opposition faction won a dominating 42 seats in the 63-seat legislature, leaving the incumbent party with 21.

(snip)

She said her government intended to abandon the British monarch as Jamaica's official head of state and instead adopt a republican form of government. Jamaica declared independence from Britain in 1962 but remains within the Commonwealth and has the Queen as head of state.

"I love the Queen; she is a beautiful lady," Simpson Miller said, before declaring to the audience in Jamaican patois: "But I think time come."

Simpson Miller said she could replace the privy council in London with the Trinidad-based Caribbean court of justice as Jamaica's highest court of appeal. She said this would "end judicial surveillance from London".

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/jan/06/prime-minister-jamaica-republic-portia

------------

It's good to see the hereditary principle being undermined.

[Agent William]

1. Ugh, bad news. Not the way I wanted to start the day. n/t

[LeftishBrit]

2. Glad to hear of Simpson-Miller's election!

I have never quite understood the principle of the Commonwealth - why would independent countries want to have another country's Head of State, hereditary or not? Up to them of course, but if they want to be republics, good for them!

Anyway I'm glad to hear they've got a centre-left PM who wants to do something about poverty.

It is interesting to note once again how the names of political parties are often unrelated to the actual policies; I would have expected a party called 'Jamaica Labour Party' to be on the left.

[Anarcho-Socialist]

3. Yes it is rather counter-intuitive

The People's National Party would sound like a right-wing party to we Europeans too.

It all goes back to the politics of pre-independence.

The PNP was launched as radical socialist party representing the workers' movement in the 1930s, at a time of anti-worker repression. The PNP name reflects an aspiration for colonial nationalism.

The JLP was launched in opposition to the PNP. JLP were social democratic and sought a balance between workers and capitalism, speaking of social partnership. They were supported by more right-wing trade unions.

As Jamaica evolved towards independence, the JLP would become broadly a conservative party with the PNP becoming a social democratic one.

[tjwmason]

4. Thanks for the back-ground there

I found it odd at first sight, but can see how 'national' would fit into the left...as with the S.N.P. here.

I always find it particularly interesting how 'liberal' changes its meaning around the world. Traditionally here in the U.K. meaning 'moderate' or 'centrist', meaning 'progressive' in the U.S., and then being the right-wing party in Australia.

[Anarcho-Socialist]

5. very true

...and of course in terms of continental Europe, liberal parties are incredibly right-wing on economic issues but very left-wing on some civil issues.