Jamaica V. Commonwealth
Jamaica attained full independence on 06, August 1962. They retained, however, its membership in the Commonwealth of Nations and adopted a Westminster-style parliamentary but with the Queen as head of state.
For the last ten years, discourses of independence have come to the fore in the country. On the other hand, poverty and rising crime rates are among the most important problems in Jamaica. Some of the public believe that the possible economic contraction brought about by full independence will make the conditions worse. On the other hand, there are criticisms that for Commonwealth, it is a community with limited effects, its socio-economic benefits to the country are limited.
Winston Churchill, while determining the foreign policy priorities of his country after the Second World War, pointed out three basic and different foreign policy trends as Transatlanticism, Europeanism, and Commonwealthism. After the Brexit decision, it is said that the Great Kingdom will attach more importance to the Commonwealth. There are comparisons such as "Empire 2.0" for the Commonwealth that was built in this new period. In addition to trade integration, free trade and aid programs for developing countries, cooperation, including defence agreements, joint action in international communities such as the United Nations, is expected to increase.
Even if Jamaica is fully independent, it is possible to remain a member of the Community as one of the independent republics such as India and Pakistan that are not affiliated with the British monarch. If we only ask what is the benefit of being part of a Commonwealth or removing the Queen of England. We can talk about the economic, political, military, and cultural benefits of being in a community with many states. However, complete independence also has ideological and emotional reasons.
We must first distinguish the fundamental difference between being dependent on the English Queen and being independent. Cooperation is established between independent countries in line with mutual interests. If Jamaica is to be fully independent, its cooperation with Britain or other community countries will be limited to mutual interests. Therefore, the advantages and disadvantages of being a member of the British monarch must be compared.
Jamaica is a developing country. What are the Community's contributions to economically support the developing member countries? Are there any credit or grant programs implemented for industry, agriculture, or service sector for underdeveloped countries? As a result, what are Jamaica's gains as a commonwealth member since 1962? Has being a member of the Community enabled the country to progress socio-economically?
When we list the countries to which Jamaica exports the most. In the top 10, we see that there are only 2 Commonwealth member countries. Jamaica, which shipped a total of 1.58 billion USD in 2019, exported only to 8 commonwealth member countries. Of the total exports, exports to the UK are only 3%, the total share of exports to Commonwealth members is 15% (235 million USD). These figures show that Jamaica, as a community member, has a meagre export share.
For example, the share of exports to EU countries of which the UK is a member 44% of its total exports and half of its imports are from EU countries. UK imports from Jamaica, 10000/3 of total imports.
Another striking result is that among the ten countries from which Jamaica imports the most, there is no commonwealth member country affiliated with the British monarch.
Although the Commonwealth is defined as a community of nations, it is a community-led by Great Britain. Community members accept the Queen of England as their Queen. A governor appointed by the Queen has authority in the country's bureaucracy. The monarchy represented by the Queen is symbolic but, in any case, it's a constraint on the sovereignty of a country.
As it is known, Barbados, which is also a Caribbean country, announced in November 2021 that the Queen would be removed from office and the people want a Barbadian president to become a country of full independence. Despite all these developments, Buckingham Palace said in a statement: "This is a matter for the government and people of Barbados." If a similar process occurs in Jamaica, the reaction of the royal authority will not be different. Jamaica may wish to leave behind a similar colonial history to Barbados.
Why shouldn't Jamaica leave Commonwealth of Nations?
1) Belonging to a large club: Jamaica may seek support from commonwealth countries at the U.N. Security Council. UK is a permanent member of UNSC.
2) Special rights to Jamaican living in United Kingdom:-Commonwealth citizens have special rights when living in the U.K. A Jamaican citizen who resides in the U.K.
3) Embassy Privileges: Jamaican citizens can obtain service from the U.K. embassy in countries that do not have a Jamaican embassy.
4) British aid to Jamaica: Jamaica has received economic aid from the U.K. at various times.
5) Commonwealth Scholarship:-UK offers scholarships and fellowships to commonwealth members to pursue higher studies in U.K.
6) Technical assistance to member countries: The Commonwealth gives "technical assistance" from the Commonwealth Fund for Technical Co-operation in support of economic growth.
Why should Jamaica leave Commonwealth of Nation?
1) Leaving colonial history behind: 92% of Jamaica's population is of African descent. Jamaican enslaved peoples came from West/Central Africa and South-East Africa. Fully independence will be the last step to leave their colonial past fully behind
2) Less economic cooperation between commonwealth members: Trade between Community countries and Jamaica is less than 15% of Jamaica's trade volume.
3) Ensuring the member countries follow human rights: In the past, the Commonwealth was somehow able to ensure human rights in member countries. The example of Sri Lanka shows that other countries remain silent against human rights violations and sanctions are seldom enforced.
4) Belonging to a larger club: Jamaica has bilateral relationships with all member countries. However, there is no unconditional solidarity between member countries.
5) Residency, Vote, and Scholarship Advantages: Very few Jamaican citizens residing in the U.K. or receiving higher education scholarships.
6) Embassy Privileges: Jamaica has consulates in many countries visited by its citizens. After full independence, new consulates can be opened if needed.
7) Economic support: Jamaica does not receive any level of economic, commercial, or technical assistance from commonwealth countries or union funds that would affect its economy.
As a result, the citizens of a country may not want to be subordinate to another country, accepting a monarchy that does not come from their ancestry, although it has many advantages. In 2011, Jamaican Prime Minister Golding said, "I have long believed that if I am to have a queen, it must be a Jamaican queen." The fundamental question is exactly that, would the majority of Jamaican people agree?
References
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(ITC), I. (n.d.). Trade statistics for international business development. Retrieved December 11, 2020, from https://www.trademap.org/Country_SelProductCountry_TS.aspx?nvpm=1%7C388%7C%7C%7C%7CTOTAL%7C%7C%7C2%7C1%7C1%7C2%7C2%7C1%7C2%257%C1%7C1+7c1
"The Commonwealth as a trading block". (2018, April 05). Retrieved December 11, 2020, from http://www.yourcommonwealth.org/editors-pick/the-commonwealth-as-a-trading-block
Durkee, A. (2020, September 16). As Barbados Drops Queen Elizabeth II, Here's Where Else The Monarch Is Head Of State. Retrieved December 11, 2020, from https://www.forbes.com/sites/alisondurkee/2020/09/16/as-barbados-drops-queen-elizabeth-ii-heres-where-else-the-monarch-is-head-of-state
Jamaica is planning to get rid of the Queen - but not entirely. (2016, April 22). Retrieved December 11, 2020, from https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/jamaica-s-prime-minister-says-they-want-ditch-queen-keep-commonwealth-a6994301.html
Site designed and built by Hydrant (http://www.hydrant.co.uk). (2020, December 07). Jamaica. Retrieved December 11, 2020, from https://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/jamaica
The Voice of Jamaica. (2019, July 18). Retrieved December 11, 2020, from https://www.jis.gov.jm/
