Marlene Malahoo Forte

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The Honourable
Marlene Malahoo Forte
KC MP JP
Marlene Malahoo Forte.jpg
Forte in 2010.
Minister of Legal and Constitutional Affairs
In office
January 2022 (2022-01) –September 2025 (2025-09)

Marlene Patricia Malahoo Forte (born 14 February 1966) is a Jamaican politician. She was the Minister of Legal and Constitutional Affairs from January 2022, [2] untill September 2025 when the role was terminated. She also was the Attorney General of Jamaica from 7 March 2016 to 10 January 2022. [3] [4] She served as a Senator for the Jamaica Labour Party from 2009 to 2016, and served as State Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade from 2009 to 2012. [5] Prior to entering politics, she served as a Resident Magistrate.

Forte received her early education at the Manning's School in Savanna-la-Mar, Westmoreland. She studied at the University of the West Indies, Norman Manley Law School and King's College London (LLM, 1999), [5] obtained a master's degree in public administration from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, [6] and has lectured in criminal practice and procedure at the Norman Manley Law School. [5] [7]

Forte was elected to the House of Representatives as MP for Saint James West Central in March 2016 after the Jamaica Labour Party won the 2016 general election on 25 February by one seat. [8]

In June 2016, Forte criticized the U.S. Embassy in Jamaica for flying a rainbow flag following the Orlando nightclub shooting. Forte said it was "disrespectful of Jamaica's laws". [9] Forte's comments were in turn criticized by others. [10]

She used the Coronation of Charles III and Camilla to emphasise the Jamaican government's intention to transition to being a republic as early as 2024, and that the coronation had accelerated the government's plans for a referendum on the subject. [11] On 11 December 2024, she presented a bill in Parliament to abolish the monarchy and make the country a republic [12]

References

  1. ↑ "Celebrating Malahoo Forte". The Gleaner . 4 May 2016.
  2. ↑ "Marlene Malahoo Forte". jis.gov.jm. Jamaica Information Service. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  3. ↑ Carter, Jediael (9 March 2016). "Women welcome appointment to executive". The Jamaica Observer . Retrieved 22 March 2016.
  4. ↑ "Dr Derrick McKoy appointed Attorney General". The Gleaner . 10 January 2022. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
  5. 1 2 3 "Marlene Malahoo Forte". World Economic Forum . Retrieved 27 January 2014.
  6. ↑ Silvera, Janet (13 July 2009). "New junior foreign minister - Malahoo-Forte appointed senator". The Gleaner . Archived from the original on 3 February 2014. Retrieved 27 January 2014.
  7. ↑ "Marlene Malahoo Forte". Yale World Fellows . Retrieved 27 January 2014.
  8. ↑ Marlene Malahoo Forte, QC, MP, JP, Minister of Legal and Constitutional Affairs
  9. ↑ "Malahoo Forte says flying rainbow flag disrespects Ja laws, US Embassy wants explanation". Jamaica Observer . 14 June 2016. Archived from the original on 15 June 2016. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
  10. ↑ "Marlene retreats". Jamaica Observer . 15 June 2016. Archived from the original on 16 June 2016. Retrieved 16 June 2016.
  11. ↑ Choudhry, Sabah (4 May 2023). "Jamaica: King's coronation accelerates plans for Jamaican republic – with referendum 'as early as 2024'". Sky News . Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  12. ↑ "Jamaica tables bill to oust King Charles as head of state and become a republic". The Guardian . 13 December 2024.
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