Note requirements to change from monarchy

Friday, February 03, 2012

Dear Editor,

Our renowned barrister and author on constitutional law, Dr Lloyd Barnett, had the following to say in the Sunday Observer of January 29, "We can only change from a monarchy to a republic if the following requirements are satisfied:

(1) The Bill seeking to make the alteration must be tabled in the House of Representatives

(2) Three months must elapse before it is debated in this House

(3) A further three months must elapse between the debate in this House and its final passing in this House

(4) The Bill must be supported by at least two-thirds of all its members (not of those voting only)

(5) If, and only if, the Bill received this two-thirds majority, may it be sent to the Senate

(6) If the Bill is not passed by a two-thirds majority in the Senate, after an interval of six months it may be sent back to the Senate

(7) If it is then passed by a two-thirds majority in the Senate, after not less than two months nor more than six months, it must be submitted to the electorate in a referendum where it must obtain a three-fifths majority of those who voted

(8) If it is passed by the two-thirds majority in the House of Representatives but not in the Senate, the Bill will only take effect if it is approved by a two-thirds majority of voters in the referendum."

I humbly pray that all the media in Jamaica and the diaspora give it the widest publicity possible and that our legislators in particular take note and accelerate the process that some of us may live to say like Hannah, "Mine eyes have seen the salvation, let thy servant depart in peace".

Owen S Crosbie

Mandeville, Manchester

oss@cwjamaica.com