THE CONSTITUTIONAL STATUS AND ROLE OF THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL The Governor-General of Jamaica is appointed by Her Majesty The Queen

on the advice of the Prime Minister, within the constitutional monarchical system of Government provided by the Jamaican Constitution. He is, "Her Majesty's representative in Jamaica". The Governor-General personifies the State by powers and functions limited to those provided for, by, or under, the Constitution or any other law. He exercises, on Her Majesty's behalf, the executive authority of Jamaica either directly or through officers subordinate to him. He appoints members of Commissions, for example, the Judicial Services Commission, the Public Services Commission and the Police Services Commission, acting on the recommendation of the Prime Minister, after consultation with the Leader of the Opposition. He acts on the advice of the Commissions when making appointments to public offices, and when removing or exercising disciplinary control over persons holding or acting in any such office. The Governor-General also performs the important duties of appointing the Prime Minister, the Leader of Opposition, Cabinet Ministers, Members of the Senate, the Chief Justice and other members of the Judiciary. Constitutional Functions Section 32 of the Constitution of Jamaica establishes rules governing the exercise of the Governor-General's functions. Within the framework of the Constitution, the GovernorGeneral is expected to participate in the conferring of Jamaican Honours, the proroguing and dissolving of Parliament, giving Assent to Bills passed by Parliament, appointing officials of Government, including diplomats, officers of the Jamaica Defence Force, Ombudsmen, the Contractor-General, and Privy Councillors. The Governor-General convenes meetings of the Privy Council which advises him on the Prerogative of Mercy and on Pardons in capital cases. Other functions of the Governor-General include giving audience to Ministers of Government and officials both in Jamaica and overseas; receiving Cabinet Decisions; reading, dispatching and signing numerous documents and State papers. The Governor-General is consulted on most aspects of national life. Section 76 of the Jamaican Constiution provides that the Prime Minister shall keep the Governor General fully informed concerning the general conduct of the government of Jamaica and shall furnish the Governor General with information as he may request with respect to any particular matter relating to the government of Jamaica. See Sugar Producers Federation v Phillips [1965] 9 WLR 120 where the Governor

Generals exercise of a statutory power was struck down, there being no evidence before the court that he had exercised the power to appoint a commission of enquiry in circumstances which warranted the appointment.

Ceremonial Events State banquets take place at the official residence of the Governor-General, King's House, whenever a foreign head of state visits Jamaica, and annually, in honour of the Members of the Diplomatic Corps accredited to Jamaica. Investitures, to bestow National Honours, are also held at King's House. The presence of Their Excellencies at cultural, educational and charitable events of national and local importance. Gleaner Article on the Jamaica becoming a Republic

The Gleaner May 1, 2012

Daraine Luton, Senior Staff Reporter

DESPITE a declaration from Phillip Paulwell, the leader of government business in the House of Representatives, that yesterday was the last time the Throne Speech would bear that name, several of the island's legislators are cautious about such a move. Andrew Holness, the leader of the opposition told The Gleaner that "changing the name is not anything substantial". North East St Elizabeth MP Raymond Pryce has urged the Parliament to change the name of the Throne Speech to the People's Speech. He said the move would represent further movement away from the Queen as the nation's head of State. Yesterday, Holness said Jamaica was not yet at the point where it should consider renaming the speech.

"At this point, we are looking to change the structure of our government. You don't go and change the Throne Speech, you await the entire picture as to what your new government structure will be," Holness added.

Change to republic first Similarly, Delroy Chuck, the leader of opposition business in the House, said he believed renaming the Throne Speech would be putting the cart before the horse. "It is inappropriate while we are a monarchical democracy," Chuck said. "Change to the republic and then you name it anything." In January, during her inauguration ceremony, Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller said Jamaica would be moving to break ties with the Queen and to make Jamaica a republic. When asked yesterday if this was the last opening of Parliament with the Queen as head of State, the prime minister replied: "I can't say yet." When Governor General Sir Patrick Allen delivered the Throne Speech in Gordon House yesterday, he said the Government would be seeking to pass 32 pieces of legislation this year. Among the bills to be brought to Parliament is an Act to Establish the Caribbean Court of Justice as Jamaica's Final Court of Appeal. There was, however, no mention of any act to amend the Constitution and make Jamaica a Republic. Lambert Brown, a government senator, said he can't wait for Jamaica to make the move to republic and to make history all aspects of the country's colonial relations. "It is not the name that is important to me, although the institution of Her Majesty the Queen comes with the baggage of having the status we have," Brown said. He added: "If we move to a republic, it's fine with me, otherwise we are just playing semantics over the name." But that is not the feeling of Everald Warmington and Arnaldo Brown. Warmington, the MP for South West St Catherine, said he wants the speech to be renamed the State of the Nation address. "I don't think we need to wait for anything," he said.

Similarly, Brown, MP for South Central St Catherine, said the symbolism of the name change would indicate a further commitment to having full political independence. "In that sense, symbolism can be useful. I see no difficulty with it as it is a low-hanging fruit that can be done without cost and it will indicate our commitment to be called a republic," Brown told The Gleaner.