Pan Africanist Bert Samuels has decried the fact that Jamaica remains tied to the British monarchy, despite years of calls for the island to be transitioned into a republic.

His comment follows the death of monarch Queen Elizabeth today (September 8), and the accession of her son, who now becomes King Charles III, head of the Commonwealth.

Samuels, who is also a lawyer, pointed out that the change in head of state comes with the automatic switch in some legal references, such as Queen’s Council becoming King’s Council, and the courts declaring ‘Save the King.’