Dennie Quill, Contributor
USAIN BOLT aside, I am feeling pretty good about being Jamaican right now. I mean there are so many things going wrong with our country, yet sometimes we manage to get it splendidly right, like we did in Helsinki last week. Heartiest congratulations to our powerful athletes.
I have been beating up on Bolt and I have no apologies for this. I would not be mad if he finished the race at the back of the pack. I am mad because he demonstrated poor sportsmanship, stopping at the point when he did, then lamely claiming that he 'felt something'. There is just so much potential being squandered here. Long ago, I predicted that the media attention and sponsorship dollars could turn this talented kid into an average guy. This was right after he went to Paris, not to participate in an athletic event but to attend a party. Unless someone takes him in hand now, I fear he will be enshrined in local legend as the cargo-laden athlete who had so much promise.
But the medal haul said plenty. Taking all that into consideration, I was hoping that our Queen would send a nice, congratulatory message to the team and its management. Which Queen, you ask? Why Queen Elizabeth II of course; the last time I checked she was still Queen of Jamaica.
REPUBLICAN SYSTEM
Thoughts about our Queen were stirred by the recent decision of the Barbados Government to take the necessary legislative steps to do away with the monarchy, and adopt a republican system of government. It is something Jamaica has been talking about for years.
Our Queen is a shared monarchy. There are 15 other countries that she rules, and she is also head of the Commonwealth of 54 nations. From time to time, she visits the members of the realm and royal watchers get an opportunity to don their finest and preen. Our leaders and the judiciary, on taking office, swear to bear true allegiance to Queen Elizabeth, her heirs and successors, according to law. So even though we are celebrating 43 years of independence, we are still constitutionally and legally tied to Britain.
As I understand it, the Queen is supposed to give Jamaica symbolically the character of the extended family. But wait. Jamaicans can't even go to Britain freely these days. Gone are the days when one could hop on a plane to visit the Mother Country. Now we are required to buy expensive visas. Is that anyway to treat family, even the poor relations?
If you live to be a hundred, you will get a congratulatory message from the Queen via her representative, the Governor-General. Celebrated members of the bar are named Queen's Counsel from time to time and the Judicial Council of the Privy Council is part of our judiciary. There are other connections like the Duke of Edinburgh Awards Scheme. But should we really be pledging allegiance to the British monarchy at this time?
For sure the Queen of Jamaica does not reflect our democracy, our independent status or our cultural way of life.
PASSIVE INDIFFERENCE
Republican movements are thriving within the realm, as many in countries like Canada, Australia and New Zealand view the monarchy with passive indifference. The time has come for the Government of Jamaica to mount a public education campaign, culminating with a referendum to decide whether we need this holdover of colonialism.
We can continue to celebrate our 'Britishness' by being part of the Commonwealth family, but the time has come for us to have an indigenous head of state.
With the usual American laid-back scorn, one commentator remarked that "royalty is retro". I am not sure what that means - but I think he/she is probably right.
Dennie Quill is a veteran journalist who may be reached at denniequill@hotmail.com.
