Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness has responded to criticisms by the British press regarding Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle’s recent visit to the island.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex caused a stir in the media last week when they made a surprise appearance at the Jamaica premiere of the ‘Bob Marley: One Love’ biopic in Kingston. Prince Harry and Meghan arrived alongside Brian Robbins, the president and CEO of Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon, and his wife Tracy James.
Following the visit, MailOnline published an article labeling Prime Minister Holness as “anti-royalist.” Prince Harry was also labeled as “insensitive” for posing with Holness. MailOnline is the website of the Daily Mail, a tabloid newspaper in the United Kingdom.
Holness’ “anti-royalist” tag stemmed from his message to Prince William during a 2022 Caribbean tour. In that message, Holness conveyed that Jamaica is in the process of transitioning from its current monarchy-led system to a republican form of government, signaling a move away from having the King as the head of state.
More publicity for Jamaica
Speaking at the official launch of the Jamaica Screen Development Initiative, a $1 billion financing program aimed at bolstering the local screen-based industries, Prime Minister Holness expressed his delight at attending the premiere of Bob Marley’s biopic.
Despite his initial pleasure at witnessing royal participation in the significant event, he humorously revealed his surprise at being unwittingly involved in what he called the “internal issues of the United Kingdom.
“I was pleased, and I was also very happy to see royals coming to participate in this major event. Unsuspecting … little did I know that I’d be drawn into some internal issues in the United Kingdom, but so it is, more publicity for Jamaica,” he remarked amid chuckles.
Holness also shared his experience visiting the film’s production set, highlighting his interactions with cast members who exhibited a profound admiration for Jamaican culture.
“I had the opportunity to meet the actors, and they were all very taken with Jamaica. It was like coming home for them, making connections with Jamaica and Jamaica’s impact on the world, and with Bob Marley and what Bob Marley represents,” he added.
