Caption: Dame Cecile La Grenade

GRENADA – Governor General of Grenada, Dame Cecile La Grenade, has given official approval to two pieces of legislation that will stop State officials from taking the Oath of Allegiance or the Affirmation of Allegiance to Britain’s King, his heirs and successors.

Parliament in St. George’s recently passed the Constitution (Oath of Allegiance (Amendment) Act, 2025 and The Constitution (Oath of Allegiance) (Amendment)  Act, 2025 taking effect as of August 1, this year.

The Bills instruct that all State officials are expected to retake their oath within 12 hours immediately following the commencement of August  or within seven days immediately following the commencement of the appointed day.

Notice that the Governor General had given assent to the Bills was published in the  official Gazette, adding that copies of the legislation can be seen at various government buildings including the Treasury, the Public Library, post offices, police stations and District Revenue offices.

Following the passage of the two pieces of legislation, the non governmental organisation,  Independent Caucus for Constitution Reform, wrote to the Governor General requesting that she not assent to the Bills.

“We respectfully urge you to withhold assent from these Bills in its present context, whose provisions contradict the foundational constructs of our Constitution. Section 45 entrusts you with this responsibility not merely as a ceremonial functionary, but as a constitutional safeguard in the service of democratic integrity,” said the July 27 letter.

“We reiterate that our objection is not symbolic—it reflects a profound apprehension about the erosion of legal checks and balances and the potential for democratic capture. We implore your Excellency to exercise your constitutional directives in honoring, upholding and preserving the Constitution of Grenada…. and resisting initiatives that compromise the legitimacy and independence of the Office of the Governor General,” it added.

The change to the two pieces of legislation was a goal of the Citizens for Constitution Reform, headed by former attorney general and constitutional expert, Dr. Francis Alexis.

At its media launch in May 2024, the grouping said that its first goal was to change  Grenada’s “Oath of Allegiance” from swearing to the King of England to the State of Grenada.

“There should no longer be allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III, his heirs and successors but instead to the land of our birth, our citizenship in which we are domicile – Grenada,” said Dr Alexis who chaired constitution reform committees for the 2016 and 2018 referendum voting.

The group is yet to make a public statement on the success of changing the Oath or Affirmation of Allegiance. (CMC)