Jamaica
Jamaica exhibits high-range performance in the Representation and Rights categories of the Global State of Democracy (GSoD) framework and in the mid-range with regard to Rule of Law and Participation. It is among the world’s top 25 per cent of countries in the majority of the GSoD factors, but among the bottom 25 per cent in Electoral Participation. Over the last five years, it has experienced notable advances in Freedom of Expression and Access to Justice. Jamaica has an upper middle-income economy but is beleaguered by slow growth and severe debt. The country is heavily dependent on tourism and lacks resilience in the face of economic shocks.
Colonization of Jamaica lasted over 400 years, beginning with the arrival of Spanish settlers in the early 1500s and ending with independence from the United Kingdom in 1962. European colonization was marked by the enslavement and subsequent extermination of Jamaica’s Indigenous population, the importation of African slaves and the indentureship of South and East Asian migrant workers. These left a lasting legacy of oppression, violence, and race and class-based discrimination.
Jamaica’s current political landscape is dominated by two political parties - the social-democratic People’s National Party (PNP) and the traditionally more right-leaning Jamaica Labour Party (JLP). Political conflict has historically arisen at the intersection of ideology and sub-national identity, such as race and class. Political violence is endemic, rooted in a history of patronage-based politics. Nascent parties recruited and armed urban gangs to organize constituencies and engage in clientelism. They also sponsored the creation of various “Garrison communities” in and around the capital, Kingston, granting this political tribalism a spatial expression and encouraging urban turf warfare, high rates of violent crime, and political corruption. Today, Jamaica has one of the highest homicide rates in the world and organized criminal activity continues to play a far-reaching role in politics.
Those in poverty and women are disproportionately affected by violence, though the government has committed to efforts targeting poverty alleviation and women’s rights. Entrenched discrimination and sexual violence against women and girls is a widespread problem and constitutes a major barrier to gender equality. Women’s representation in Congress has grown but remains far from parity. LGBTQIA+ persons also face rampant discrimination and violent persecution, but efforts to bring about change are typically thwarted by the religious conservative majority. Jamaicans also face substantial inequality, with poverty rates hovering around 20 per cent and three-quarters of the country’s wealth concentrated in 10 per cent of the population. Nearly all Jamaicans are of partial or full African descent, but stratification within racial categories is correlated with disparate socio-economic conditions.
The judicial system has traditionally been marred by corruption and backlogs, but some positive developments include successfully executed government strategies to swiftly reduce caseloads and strengthen the judiciary. Under recent judicial reforms, Jamaica’s Supreme Court seems to have entered a new era of accountability for organized crime and violence.
Looking ahead, it will be important to watch the impact of new anti-crime legislation, which could impact security and factors of Rights. It will also be important to follow anti-corruption efforts, which could impact Rule of Law. More broadly, Jamaica’s republican movement, triggered by Queen Elizabeth II’s passing, indicates a transition away from constitutional monarchy and toward republicanism. A Constitutional Reform Commission is currently reviewing the 1962 Constitution in preparation for a referendum on the transition, to be held during the next general election.
https://www.idea.int/democracytracker/
May 2024
José Raúl Mulino is elected President
On 5 May, Panama held elections to choose its president, members of the National Assembly, members of the Central American Parliament, mayors and other local leaders. José Raúl Mulino was elected president with the support of 34.3 per cent of voters, nearly ten percentage points ahead of second place Ricardo Lombana. Former president Martin Torrijos came in third place, while the ruling Revolutionary Democratic party (Partido Revolucionario Democrático) candidate only attained around 5.8 per cent of votes. Mulino entered the race as the candidate for the Achieving Goals (Realizando Metas) opposition party after the original candidate, former President Martinelli, was deemed ineligible for having been convicted for money laundering. Just days before the election, the Supreme Court confirmed that Mulino could run for president, denying a challenge to his eligibility for not having participated in his party’s primary process.
In Congress, independent candidates earned enough seats to become the largest group in the Legislature. According to preliminary results, 15 women were elected to the National Assembly out of 71 members (one less than in the previous legislature). Voting is mandatory but not enforced in Panama, and electoral participation was around 78 per cent (up five percentage points compared to 2019).
Sources: El Pais, Organization of American States, EFE, The Guardian
May 2024
Constitutional Reform Committee issues first report
The Constitutional Reform Committee (CRC), appointed by Prime Minister Andrew Holness in 2023 with the objective to provide guidance in Jamaica’s transition to a republican form of government, has issued its first report. Among its recommendations is the proposal that a constitutional monarchy is no longer an adequate form of government, and that Jamaica’s head of state should be chosen in a democratic process. It further makes recommendations on parliamentary reform. Members of the CRC from the opposition’s People’s National Party (PNP) have, however, refused to sign the report, due to objections of the phased approach the CRC has adopted. The Committee first addressed issues related to deeply entrenched constitutional provisions that require a referendum, such as those related to establishing a republic, leaving others for a second phase. PNP argues that the definition of the Caribbean Court of Justice as Jamaica’s final court (instead of the UK Privy Council) should be considered at this point as well.
Sources: Government of Jamaica, Jamaica Observer, Jamaica Inquirer, International IDEA
March 2023
Prime Minister announces Constitutional Reform Committee
Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness announced on 22 March the establishment of a Constitutional Reform Committee (CRC) to oversee and assist in the country’s transformation from a constitutional monarchy towards a republic. The CRC is comprised of 14 members representing diverse sectors, including civil society, academia and youth representatives, government, the parliamentary opposition, chief legal officers, as well as constitutional law and governance experts – under the leadership of Jamaica’s Minister of Legal and Constitutional Affairs, Marlene Malahoo Forte.
The CRC has been tasked to provide guidance and oversight throughout the constitutional review process and through the implementation of recommendations. The protracted constitutional reform process will be carried out in three phases that will involve a thorough and comprehensive review of the 1962 Constitution of Jamaica. The government plans to subsequently hold a referendum by the end of 2024 or beginning of 2025, regarding the proposal for Jamaica’s transition to a republic.
Sources:Caribbean National Weekly, Jamaica Observer, Constitution Net, Government of Jamaica Information Service, Forbes
February 2023
Local government elections postponed for third time
On 21 February, Jamaica’s House of Representatives approved the Representation of the People Act, 2023 (Postponement of Elections to Municipal Corporations and City Municipalities). The bill effectively postponed the country’s local elections for a further 12 months - the third consecutive postponement of local elections in the country.
Local elections are constitutionally due every four years and were last held in November 2016. Initially scheduled for November 2020, the elections were postponed to February 2022 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. They were then further delayed by the government by 12 months as to avoid public health risks amid the fourth wave of the pandemic. They were due to be held this month, but the government did not approve the budget for the election submitted by the Electoral Office of Jamaica, citing fiscal constraints. Local Government Minister Desmond McKenzie has stated that the postponement will allow the country to continue its post-pandemic economic recovery. Local elections in Jamaica are now expected to be held no later than 28 February 2024.
Sources: Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development of Jamaica, Radio Jamaica News, Jamaica Information Service, Jamaica Observer
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GSoD Indices Data 2014-2023
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