PJ Patterson supports replacing Queen as Jamaica Head of State

(Go Jamaica) Former Prime minister, P.J. Patterson, has added his support to a move by the Government to replace the Queen as head of state before Jamaicaโ€™s 50th anniversary of Independence next year August.

Both the Government and Opposition have agreed to put the matter to a vote in Parliament.

But the governing Jamaica Labour Party wants the head of state selected by a two-thirds majority of both Houses of Parliament, voting separately, while the Opposition Peopleโ€™s National Party wants it done by a two-thirds majority of both Houses voting together.

Speaking at a forum put on by the Sir Arthur Lewis Institute for Social and Economic Studies, Patterson urged both parties to push for a solution on the matter.