Marlene Malahoo Forte | |
|---|---|
 Forte in 2010. | |
| Minister of Legal and Constitutional Affairs | |
| In office January 2022 (2022-01) – September 2025 (2025-09) | |
| Attorney General of Jamaica | |
| In office 7 March 2016 (2016-03-07) – 10 January 2022 (2022-01-10) | |
| Prime Minister | Andrew Holness |
| Preceded by | Patrick Atkinson |
| Succeeded by | Derrick McKoy |
| Member of Parliament forSaint James West Central | |
| Assumed office March 2016 | |
| Preceded by | Sharon Ffolkes-Abrahams |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Marlene Patricia Malahoo (1966-02-14)14 February 1966 (age 60) |
| Spouse | Ian Forte[1] |
| Education | |
Marlene Patricia Malahoo Forte (born 14 February 1966) is aJamaican politician. She was theMinister of Legal and Constitutional Affairs from January 2022,[2] until September 2025 when the role was terminated. She also was theAttorney General of Jamaica from 7 March 2016 to 10 January 2022.[3][4] She served as aSenator for theJamaica Labour Party from 2009 to 2016, and served asState Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade from 2009 to 2012.[5] Prior to entering politics, she served as aResident Magistrate.
Forte received her early education at theManning's School inSavanna-la-Mar,Westmoreland. She studied at theUniversity of the West Indies,Norman Manley Law School andKing's College London (LLM, 1999),[5] obtained a master's degree in public administration from theKennedy School of Government atHarvard University,[6] and has lectured in criminal practice and procedure at theNorman Manley Law School.[5][7]
Forte was elected to theHouse of Representatives asMP forSaint James West Central in March 2016 after theJamaica Labour Party won the 2016 general election on 25 February by one seat.[8]
In June 2016, Forte criticized theU.S. Embassy in Jamaica for flying arainbow flag following theOrlando nightclub shooting. Forte said it was "disrespectful of Jamaica's laws".[9] Forte's comments were in turn criticized by others.[10]
She used theCoronation of Charles III and Camilla to emphasise the Jamaican government's intention totransition 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 inParliament to abolish the monarchy and make the country a republic[12]
