Jamaica is not really independent, or IS IT? 

I now bestow on you the order of Jacranian, you are one of us while one of your own countrymen. Bless up.

A good video for all the people who constantly think China is "invading" and taking over Jamaica. I can't believe it takes someone not originally native to Jamaica to be this authentic and unbiased about Jamaica's policies and history.

Excellent work, thanks for bringing factual clarity to this matter.

Thank you for a masterclass on independence. Misconceptions and myths have been dispelled 👏🏿 👏🏿

Thanks for your hard work and commitment to this channel Irie!

People confuse Jamaica's legal Independence with it's economic independence. Jamaica like other legally independent countries are dependent on others to varying degrees. Even the US needs others and owes money to other countries. Your video is great and on point.

Irina, some of your points make sense; some of them don't. Let's take your point about the UK not forcing Jamaica to use the Privy Council, for example. The same point could be said for the Caymanians- the UK is not forcing the people of Cayman to remain a territory of the UK. Just as how Jamaica could change its constitution and remove the King of England as the Head of State (and by extension removing the Governor General position, who, by the way, plays an important role in laws being passed), or Jamaica could choose to use the Caribbean Court of Justice as its final appeals court, the people of Cayman can, if they want, become an independent country. The UK cannot force them to be an overseas territory. Obviously, Jamaica is not an overseas territory, and anyone who says Jamaica is an overseas territory is simply ignorant. Likewise, clearly, Jamaica gained independence from Great Britain, which allowed it to form its own government and make most of its decisions independently. However, it's not idiotic to say that Jamaica, not only on paper, shares some characteristics with a country/territory that is not fully independent. A fully independent country, for example, does not have its highest court- constitutionally speaking- in another country, if there isn't some kind of reliance on that country. If you didn't know, legal precedents from the Privy Council inform much of the judicial decisions made in Jamaica- even to this day. The legal precedents from the Privy Council that concern Jamaica are, based on the principle of stare decisis, binding- they are not merely persuasive (see Pratt v. A-G for Jamaica, for example). Whether or not the government of the country that hosts the highest court is forcing the former territory to use its court as its last court of appeal is irrelevant, really. For, using YOUR sources' definitions of independence, nowhere does it mention that "force" has to be achieved/used, or not used, for (in)dependence to take place. Being dependent on, or relying on, which is the opposite of independence/independent, can in fact negate your status as an independent country or territory. And, yes, it's more than just being economically or financially dependent. People and things dependent on other things and people for a myriad of reasons. In Jamaica's case, the situation is very unique.

Only people who do not know what a independent countries is would say Jamaica is not independent. 🤦🏽‍♂️

Nice one Irina, thank you so much for running with this one 👍. UK.

Another stellar video as usual . Keep up the good work.

Thank you Irina for clarification, amazing video. ❤

Informative. Thank you Irie.

Another great video - setting the record straight.

Thanks for teaching some folks who don't know how to research or even read about they're history, they just like to tear it down instead for their own benefit.

Very interesting. Love your videos. Love your style of delivery. Thanks for making it your life's work to promote Jamaica. I feel very proud

Thank you Irina for the clarity. As always, you never cease to amaze me. A lot of people like to talk without evidence, so I hope that this video serves as an educational tool to all, especially those with different views about this topic

Great topic to clear up, Irina. Even for Jamaicans!!!😮🤔

As usual you never let me down.

We live in a global world and we ( countries) need each to live our “best” lives and have access to everything that’s available… it’s progress

Once again brilliant information.💪💚👏Thank you Irie

As usual Irina....a truly thorough research. Well done. Thank you.

Thank you for highlighting my birth land the land of Jamaica., I'm a new sub to your page keep up the great work Thorpe brought me here,Sean from Toronto Canada

I am coming over from the Paul Bogle content. Big thanks for the work 🙏

It's absolutely brilliant. I've learnt so much from this video..👏👏👏❤️🇯🇲💯

I learned a lot via this video. Thanks

Excellent, well presented. Thank you.

Much thanks for the info 👍 😊

Awesome video!

I guess I do not know what an independent country is then. Covid showed me all I needed to know about sovereignty. Did we forget that ill coloured flag flown on local grounds? That flag, was not a national or international flag but served as a deliberate reminder of whose knee is in whose neck. Those political innuendos brings me right back into the history books of our wailing forefathers. Independence is like freedom, it is not a name but a state. "Are we there yet?"

Iriena, you are the very best. Thanks for explaning the difference between independent and dependent!

Irie, you never cease to amaze me! What can I say, another great video. Thanks for enlightening me as well as the doubters about Jamaica and its status as an independent country. I can see you put a lot of research into this topic and it came across very well. Well done. I can’t wait to see the next video. Thank you.

The British Monarchy draws from Jamaican coffers (tax payers) for support in the performance of His Majesty’s duties when in Jamaica or acting as King of Jamaica (He bill us). Jamaican tax dollars pay for the costs associated with the Governor-General in the exercise of the powers of the Crown, including travel, security, residences, offices, ceremonies, and the like. The Jamaican Government just announce a $34 million salary increase for the GG to be paid for by the Jamaican Tax Payers

I love you ❤. Excellent video... as usual.

For this to make any sense, it has to be brought under one homogenous structure with the Jamaican Nationals and Citizens as sovereign.

I personally don't think any country is really, truly independent. We all live in a global society. UK, with a chip on their shoulder thought they were independent, until the leave the EU. We are all interdependent, wether Caribbean, the Americas, Europe,, Asia etc. we all need each other to survive

Thank you Irene. Dispelling these myths for folks helps to bring about a more informed society. The more Jamaicans know about laws and state policies, is the better they are able to make decisions that benefit themselves and their country.

Irie, my sister, keep doing your thing. You are making a difference!

JAMAICA WITH IRIE, as usual, well done! Your study has satisfied the legal definition of an independent nation. Consequently, I accept that Jamaica satisfies the requirements that you pointed to while admitting that I was one of those who professed that we were not quite independent. I'll just make mention of two observations about this topic. Firstly, it's quite a paradox that Jamaica is independent, but the "head of state" is the British monarch. Secondly, if i may just highlight some important points about your quotation, "an independent country is free from outside control when it comes to making decisions." That is ideally true. However, there are factors that come into play that can and have influenced decision-making. The world of geopolitics predominates and especially as it pertains to the economic strength of a nation, region, or block, and the strength of the leadership of these countries. Size and population are also factors that come into play. In Jamaica's case, we had developed a reputation of being mendicants, both of cash and kind, spanning a very long time. This has resulted in individual countries and regional blocks like the EU or UN to actually influence policy-making in Jamaica. This, however, is more a symptom of weak leadership and not suggestive of an absence of independence. Outside influence is always present. One only has to look at the recent diplomatic row over an American diplomat and his same gender partner when we were essentially being blackmailed into accepting him or else. Now, this is where the strength of an economy, the strength of the county's leadership, and even its size makes an enormous difference. The US would have never presented such an issue before the Saudis, Chinese, or Singaporeans because they know that there would be severe backlash. Respect!

Thank for ur documentary good work

So true

This is very well done even if one has different opinions I would think they would admit it is good content

I think u are a God sent to Jamaica. Weldone on your research and documentaries! Love you 😊

True word Irena. My sentiments exactly

Good Day !

So long as Jamaica stays a common wealth it isn’t independent in my mind. There wouldnt be widespread reporting about Jamaica and other countries wanting to cut ties with their former colonizer if you were fully independent. The head of state and court is Britain lol how can we reasonably say this is an independent country? The fact that Jamaica can make its own laws is irrelevant if it needs the royal families ok for it to get passed. Plus the IMF, ISDS policies and other policies or entities make it near impossible for the country (and others) to truly grow not just survive. I would advise people to watch Matt Kennard interviews on youtube

Every country in the world 🌎 should have a IRIE.........

This is a great lesson, informative and inspiring. Thank you

Thanks for explaining! For a long time I was seeing the British government and the Queen as one and the same!

YOU ARE THE LADY FOR RESEARCHING 🎉❤

My question is what’s the purpose for Jamaica having a monarchy if it’s an independent nation? Because of that Jamaica doesn’t have a Jamaican president but a Prime Minister who takes orders from the Governor General who’s the Kings representative.

As usual 😅you are putting the controversy too rest!!👏🏾👏🏾👍🏾🇯🇲keep the truth coming we have too stomp out ignorance in jamaica.

Irina, you have opened a huge can of worms. They are all wiggling out. Great topic. Im enjoying reading ALL the comments. Sometimes they are equally as interesting as the videos. ❤❤

Good n ya Irene " that's Aussie Slang!...im Jamaican/ Australian n have viewed your Vlogs regularly!!.. you 're definitely an Asset to Jamaica!!!!

Need to share this with the Rasta community

Very well articulate and presented in a succinct and attention grabbing fashion….well done bright star!

Irie I agree with you 💯 %

8:25 Thanks Irena. In that video, the link to the following documents are broken: (1)Jamaica Constitution,1962 (2)Jamaica Independence Act, 1962 (3)West Indies Act, 1962. I was wondering if you could add a current link there and in the description section of this video. Please and thanks.

If Jamaica is independent then why does the governor general get pay from the UK government which is controlled by the British royal family

Excellent academic video as usual. I really think a lot of the naysaying should upset us, not only because of the labor and cost paid by our ancestors but because there are political influences aimed at getting people to disengage politically because every lost vote is one more in favor of those who want to influence the government to do whatever they want which may not be in the public's best interest.

Thanks Irina! Very informative as usual. I not sure what is the role of the Governor General?

We know Jamaica is an independent country, but we'd like to be truly independent, there's a difference. Shed all ties with the former colonial power, they might not have as much authority as they did before, but it's the sense of dignity we'll have as a predominantly black nation that will be important for us to move forward. Those people have done the worst things imaginable to our people for centuries, the times may have changed, but our dark history never will.They can change their laws at any time to have more dominion over us, It's important that we become a republic to avoid being subjugated to anyone else's constitution. If the monarchy is not doing anything to help us grow, what's the point of keeping it? You have to wake up and start thinking! We've gotten this far on our own, and we can absolutely go further. Her country is at war with a country we trade with, of course she's gonna want you to be allies with her allies. Ukrainians have been openly racist, we have our own problems that we have to address. I want everybody reading this post to understand why we can only move forward as a republic.

Thank you.

You broke it down clearly and I fully understand. I still say Jamaica is Dependent, 'Not In' . It's a illusion to think that Jamaica is not influence and control by external forces . It's a science, Political Science, Social Science construct that is set up in every country by the powers that Be. Raspect... Irie 🙏

Irie i am telling you or right on the .money. you or . More Jamaican then a lot off my fellow Jamaican you show more respect to my country then a lot of my country man respect for that sister

Need that bauxite video pls

The current Jamaican monarch and head of state, since 8 September 2022, is King Charles III. Edit: Doesn't matter I know I know nothing

Knowledge is power teach them

You make sense out of nonsense! BRAVO 😂😂😂

Well explained! I can tell you're a teacher. "Independence" means making one's own decisions not freedom from (consideration of) the consequences thereof. NOBODY is really independent in the latter sense. Many people also get confused about the "head of state". As you said, Canada & Australia are constitutional monarchies too and have the same HoS, King Charles. They are also independent countries.

Irina has done a good job of academically defining Jamaican independence. Realpolitik actually determines that the U.S. decides Jamaica's foreign policy. Any Jamaican Prime Minister who actively opposes American foreign policy will be removed from power, and likely in short order. I don't approve of this unfortunate reality, but as a realist, I must recognize that it is a reality.

You are correct

I love this lady ❤🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲

Lady you are wrong. Queen Elizabeth always referred to the UK government has her government which means she is the owner just like you have people who don’t think Brittany still has control over the United States. And they clearly do when they come here it’s not just shake hands and smile. Everything is for a reason. the Jamaican military owned by the British crown, which also owned the police force in Jamaica. When you join the military in Jamaica, you have to swear to serve the crown when you join the police force you have to swear to serve the crown.

Jamaica needs to practice self-reliance.

I get your point, but the monarchy holds the power to veto government policies and frequently use that power albeit in secret. Thank you for another factual podcast.

God bless irie for making Jamaican knows that thank you now they knows

Irie your or telling true about Jamaica. Your do your research very well

IRIE is MAKING quite sure to secure her spot /place in Jamaica by always making sure to say the right thing at all times so she doesn't get kicked out 💯🤔👀🧐😎

Irena, pls can you do a podcast about the crab situation. You are the only one I trust. The others with the exception of David. Was jus one sided and I think they caused more damage than good to the street food industry in Jamaica. Blesseings. I know this vlog wasn't about that. But needed to reach out to u in some way. You are the only person who is professional and intelligent to do this. Others just talk without research and facts❤❤❤❤

Yes the peoples of Jamaica did and is indeed fighting to *BE* independent, (we are one of Realm Nation out of 14 in the Commonwealth, UK informs us, if they want to enter Jamaica as a "courtesy"), We got granted independence because the UK was broke. She couldn't maintained the infrastructure of her colonies. Before leaving and making bonfires of our records, she put in place the families that would, do have the powers (the merchantile class). They wrote the laws. UK Home Office even set the pathway to becoming a Republic. PM Holiness, took the 1st step in becoming a Republic by issuing public notices and informing the monarchy. Privy Court is a concern in going to a Republic, Trinidadians, Barbados figured out so can Jamaica. At the time of independence the *UK absence landowner* still owned most of the land. Russian Oiligarchy, are the largest property owners now in Jamaica, because instead selling large amounts of land to Black Jamaicans, the Brits while selling London and their historical estates they also sold their properties in Jamaica. While some of the merchantile class sold to Italians, Trinidadians, Brazilians, Mexicans and others. When Jamaica need money we went to the *"mother country,"* she said no (even though our moneys are, in her bank, making her spreadsheet look good) so that left the *WORLD bank and the IMF.* When we wanted highways we made contract with old and true British company, that rebranded themselves as Anglo Australian company (which have the most horrific human rights and environmental abuses). Went also to Chinese (Chinese, East Indians, Syrians, Lebanese are part of our merchantile class) because one project the Brit said was impossible, the Chinese got it done. The Monarch gives consents to the laws. In fact sometimes they have *not* "given consent," when it comes to *their properties, interests and hiring practices.* The protests to get rid of English Monarch is not needed, there are laws written to get rid of monarchy since *English Civil War and King Charles II,* return to the throne (not sure if there's processss for the Scots, the Welsh, the Irish to get rid of monarch off their thrones). The Bailiwick of Guernsey and Jersey, Isle of Man, are under total control of the UK's monarch. The British monarch is *LARGEST, LANDOWNER IN THE WORLD!*

You said it, no country is independent. They are "sovereign nations". The word "independent" us applied to Jamaica and many African countries because they were at one point colonized by another country. They may have since gained independence from that particular colonizer, but that does not mean that they are fully independent of the cultural, historical, economic, legislative, linguistic, hegemonic influences, etc. That being said, the country does enjoy some level of independence, but again this can be affected by the political institutions and traditions of the colonizer that are still in place and adhered to.

I love your videos thanks for sharing your information and doing the research. I really want to know what is the easiest way and the process to travel with my pets from the UK to Jamaica? I have done some research but still feel overwhelmed by the whole process. Pls pls pls Could you create a video on this subject. Thank you.😊

OK people, for all of you who love this video. Let's remind this lady who the GOVERNOR GENERAL of Jamaica is. The Governor General carries out many constitutional, ceremonial, and other important functions. This includes signing Acts of Parliament to make them law, appointing Prime Ministers, and accrediting diplomats sent to Antigua & Barbuda by foreign countries. The governor-general represents the monarch. He reports to the King of England. Ok so if the host of this video has a child and the child does everything on its own, however, that child has to inform their parents of everything they do and the parent gives a yes or no, who IS REALLY in charge of that child in all decisions? DONE! ask the prime minister and the host of this video, why he has to get the Governor general's approval before imposing any state of emergency due to crime.

People need to stop this throw off the crown foolishness. No matter what change comes next, it will not stop one murder nor one petty theivery. Won't stop Jamaicans from throwing "suck mom thumb" at each other.

Thanks for doing a video on this highly debated topic by Jamaicans. I want to think that we have achieved a high level of self-governance. However, I would not say we are fully independent. If we were, we would take the hint that the Privy Council truly wants us to not see it as our court of last resort. We would have the confidence like Barbados and others in the Caribbean Court of Justice. We also would not retain laws on our books that have their roots in colonialism. We are getting there, but a lot more needs to be done. At least we are not British Overseas Territories.

❤ 🇯🇲

Irie, I'd like to get in touch with you, thanks

Thank you for providing clarity on the matter. There has been much confusion on the issue of 'Jamaica's independence', but now i can share your vlog and out the natter to rest. 🇯🇲 🇬🇧 🇯🇲

This is how you know people that didn't pay attention in school.

Most kno that wi nuh really independent as we're locked in on so many levels to the 🇬🇧 & 🇺🇸

Then why do our so call govt, military, judiciary and police swear allegiance to the British monarchy? This is utter bull-shitting

Not free from outside control... not all countries.. Singapore, UAE, South Africa, Seychelles, Rwanda, Zwitzerland, not any decision can be made without the British Monarch. You see .. independence have to do not just with one's law.. but their economy and what such economy is back by.. eg....Silver, Gold, property etc. Those are are store of values. What is the jamaican dollar back by? Just the USD they have in reserve. Well USA ofcoure having a big problem with that trade deal with Russian. Frankly...I thought you knew that.. did you heard the message from Congress woman Maxine Walters? Do you know how much per kilo for that red dirt that is mined by all those previous countries to include Russia. And its uses? Jamaica is been rolled. Congrats to our leaders. One love Irene❤

I live in the uk. The government made 49 new legislation and or laws in 2023 alone. It is the same for many countries. I don't use my vote because I don't trust the governments! I am not a royalist some members of the royal family work hard. Their Diaries are booked a year in advice. Without the Holy Scripture Bible, Kings, Queens and government etc. History would not have been documented. Remember to document your own family history for your generations.

I want to move here am like 31 and child 4 I just wudnt no we’re to start or how to go about it 🙄😬

Hi so much love from India

❤

Corrections: Firstly if Jamaica is independent then (1) why is that Each Bill adopted by the Parliament must be approved by The Governor-General before it becomes the law of the land-is this the case in a Republic??? Who does the Governor General Represent-the people of Jamaica or an alien??? ; AND The Jamaican constitution is NOT a product of our Parliament but it is an Order of Council that was written by the British Monarchy-which independent country have their constitution written for them by their colonizer??? Secondly, the IMF and World Bank are NOT neutral organizations-they are controlled by europeans. They have been used as tools by America and its EU counterparts to wreck havoc in "Third WORLD"" countries. This explanis why so many countries from the "Thirld World" are so eager to join BRICS.

The people will not feel independent if independence is based on a dictionary written by westerners. Since it’s inception, Jamaica has had an “independent” government, ruled by a governor. But the Governor was appointed by and answerable to the Crown. Jamaica still has a Governor, answerable to the Crown. Yes, the government makes local and international decisions independently, but the intrinsic structure of Jamaica is still under the Crown. That is not independent. Jamaica must become a Republic to truly gain independence. The colonials have a wonderful way of making changes without making changes. They are very deceptive. The Canadians, Australians, New Zelanders, and other Commonwealth countries will tell you that they are very proud of their allegiance to the British Crown. They bow in deference. Is that independent? The French gave independence to its colonies in Africa, but we all see how that is going. Irina, we appreciate most of your views, but as an outsider, not connected to the past experiences, you will never understand.🤷🏽‍♂️🇯🇲🇺🇸 14:05

Jamaica 🇯🇲 as a nation have the right to self govern nothing more

Yes Jamaica is a independent Country but outside countries still has control because of the Corruption of the Politician since 1962 to Present....facts..