An important step to political independence says, Holness

Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness says the island’s desire to transition to a republic will be an important step in completing the country’s political independence.

Speaking to more than 50 resident and non-resident Heads of Missions, during a Diplomatic Week event at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he said the matter is an imperative that will “ consume our attention in Jamaica”

He assured that the Government is “working closely with various stakeholders, including the Opposition, to ensure that the preparatory process is seamless and allows for the full and effective engagement of our people”

Meanwhile, Minister of Legal and Constitutional Affairs, Marlene Malahoo

Forte, said the Constitutional Reform (CR) Committee, which will play a pivotal role in Jamaica’s seamless transition to a Republic, has now been constituted and has commenced its work

Malahoo Forte, who was speaking during last week’s sitting of the Standing Finance Committee of the House of Representatives, informed that the CR Committee will “provide advice and oversight as we move on the most comprehensive and impactful constitutional reform work to be undertaken in the life of independent Jamaica”

Additionally, she said the CR Committee’s work will be supported by a Secretariat, which is now being formulated

“It is our intention to transition Jamaica from a Constitutional monarchy to establish the Republic of Jamaica, within the Commonwealth, as a Parliamentary Republic with a Non-Executive President,” she noted

IDB Caribbean governors meet in Trinidad

President of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Ilan Goldfajn, has called for a renewed effort to overcome the historic plagues of poverty and inequality, increasing productivity and accelerating growth

He said the Washington-based financial institution is best suited to helping the Caribbean in this effort

“The IDB must help the region rise to its challenges including the more frequent and costly natural disasters, through innovative and agile ways to prepare, adapt and react” that are better suited to the Caribbean’s development needs and vulnerabilities

The consultation will focus on “Partnering for a Resilient Caribbean” to bring clarity on how IFIs, Governments, and the private sector can work together to achieve this vital paradigm shift, the IDB said

Before the opening of the meeting which ends on Tuesday, the IDB said that it organizes this consultative meeting annually with governors of countries comprising its Caribbean Country Department in preparation for the Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors to be held March 16-19, this year in Panama

Burt Burt

Goldfajn, who is on his first visit since his election to the top post late last year, told the X1 annual consultation with IDB governors from the Caribbean as well as the President of the Barbados-based Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) that such efforts are needed while tackling more frequent climate events and scarce resources

It said as the Caribbean emerges from the pandemic, international financial institutions (IFIs) are being called upon to offer solutions

“The IDB Group is embarking on a new phase of effective development support for Latin America and the Caribbean that seeks to achieve better social outcomes, including through greater climate resilience and enhance sustainable digital and physical infrastructure,” the IDB added

The meeting is being attended by the respective Caribbean Country Governors for The Bahamas, Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago