Jamaica ready to drop British queen, new prime minister says

Jan 6, 2012, 17:26 GMT

Kingston - New Jamaican Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller said in her inaugural address that the country was ready to drop Britain's Queen Elizabeth as its head of state when it celebrates its 50th anniversary of independence later this year.

'I love the queen. She is a beautiful lady, and apart from being a beautiful lady, a wise lady and a wonderful lady, but I think time come,' Simpson Miller said Thursday.

'This 50th anniversary year will be a time for reflection on the lessons of the past; and as we celebrate our achievements as an independent nation, we now need to complete the circle of independence,' she said.

The leftist Simpson Miller, who also led Jamaica 2006-7, said she would move towards making the Caribbean country a republic with its own indigenous president as head of state.

The British monarch currently appoints a governor general of Jamaica, who in turn appoints the country's prime minister.

There appears to be a wide consensus to change this. Former prime minister Bruce Golding (2007-11), currently in opposition, has also spoken in favour of dropping the British monarch.

Jamaica attained independence by leaving the West Indies Federation - which brought together various British colonies in the Caribbean - in 1962.

Read more about Great Britain