Jamaicans are divided and uncertain about whether the country should become a republic. That’s according to the latest Nationwide/Bluedot poll, powered by Total Tools.
The poll was conducted between September 6 and 19. It has a margin of error of +/- 3 per cent.
Mahiri Stewart reports.
On Tuesday, Minister of Legal and Constitutional Affairs, Marlene Malahoo Forte told the nation that draft bills based on the work of the Constitutional Reform Committee, CRC, to move Jamaica away from the British monarchy have now been prepared.
She gave the update while speaking in the House of Representatives.
The CRC was created in March of 2023 to guide Jamaica’s legislative change into a republic. It completed the first phase of its work in May of 2024.
But, the verdict is still out as to whether Jamaicans are convinced that the country should transition to a republic.
In the latest Nationwide/Bluedot poll, powered by Total Tools, respondents were asked- ‘To what extent do you support Jamaica becoming a republic, which removes The King as the Head of State?’
A marginally larger number of respondents, 39 per cent indicated they were unsure about the move, or wanted to remain neutral.
Thirty-eight per cent of respondents told the Bluedot pollsters that they were in support of Jamaica becoming a republic. But another 24 per cent said they somewhat oppose the move.
In a breakout of this data, the poll revealed that women, 44 per cent of them, were particularly opposed to the pending change.
And, those aged 65 and older were marginally more opposed, with 45 per cent of them saying they do not support the move to remove The King as Jamaica’s Head of State.
Along strict party lines, 46 per cent of Jamaica Labour Party supporters are in favour of the transition.
Thirty-three per cent of Labourites have indicated they are unsure about the move or want to remain neutral on the matter. Another 20 percent of them are somewhat opposed.
Among People’s National Party, PNP, supporters, 33 per cent support the move to transition Jamaica to republic status. PNP supporters who’re somewhat opposed stood at 32 per cent.
The other 36 per cent were unsure or wanted to remain neutral on the issue.
Meanwhile, among unaffiliated voters, 45 per cent of them are unsure about the transition or want to remain neutral. Another 35 per cent are in support, while 20 per cent are somewhat opposed.
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