December 10, 2021

Jamaican PM: Becoming A Republic Should Be About More Than “Empty Symbolism”

By Newsroom

As calls for Jamaica to sever its ties to Britain have intensified following Barbados becoming a Republic, Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness believes more attention should be given to building a strong and prosperous country rather than what he termed “empty symbolism.”

PM Holness said there were some people who wanted to speak sovereignty into being, but said he would rather engage in tangible work towards making aspirations a reality.

“The nation is as the nation does, and there are some people who want to speak prosperity into being, and to speak sovereignty and independence into being. I spend my time doing because the greatest frustration is a dream not achieved,” the Jamaican PM said on a public platform on Thursday. 

“Those who have ears to hear those vague terms will understand them until it is time for us to have that full and direct discourse,” said Holness.

His comments come on the heels of Barbados becoming a Republic on November 30th- the same day it celebrated its 55th anniversary of Independence, officially severing ties with the Queen.

Dame Sandra Mason was sworn in as the nation’s first President.

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