The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (centre) talk with Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness (left) and the Governor General of Jamaica Patrick Allen (right) (Toby Melville/PA)
(Picture: PA Wire)It’s fair to say the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have received a mixed reaction during their trip to Jamaica thus far, with some happy to see the royal family members and others concerned that their presence sends the wrong message for a country intending to become a Republic.
Prince William and Kate Middleton might have been welcomed in the country by prime minister Andrew Holness, but he was quick to address the elephant in the room, saying: “There are issues here which are, as you would know, unresolved, but your presence gives an opportunity for these issues to be placed in context, put front and centre and to be addressed as best we can.”
Holness was elected to office in 2016 and on assuming the role, said his government would introduce a bill to replace the Queen with “a non-executive president as head of state.”
However, a timeline for making this a reality has yet to be established despite the PM winning a second term in 2020. But it would seem that Holness very much to make this into a reality, telling the royal couple: “Jamaica is, as you can see, a country that is very proud of its history, very proud of what we have achieved and we are moving on and we intend to attain, in short order, our developing goals and to fulfil our true ambitions… as an independent, developed, prosperous country.”
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