The first Jamaican prime minister to make steps towards a republic was Michael Manley , whose People 's National Party ( PNP ) came to power at the 1972 general election . His government established a commission into constitutional reform in 1975 , and in July 1977 , following a march to commemorate the Morant Bay rebellion , Manley announced that Jamaica would become a republic by 1981 . However , his government was defeated at the 1980 general election by the more conservative Jamaica Labour Party ( JLP ) , led by Edward Seaga . Seaga was also a republican , having expressed a preference for a " ceremonial presidency " in 1977 . Despite this , no concrete moves towards a republic occurred during his premiership
Morant Bay rebellion
Morant Bay rebellion
Republicanism in Jamaica