JG - Mealy-mouthed nationalism

From my archive of press clippings:

Jamaica Gleaner

Mealy-mouthed nationalism

published: Sunday June 8, 2008

Ken Jones, Contributor

Ken Jones - Contributed

It's an ill wind that blows no good; and so it is with the twisting tornado that envelops dual citizenship in Jamaica. Abe Dabdoub's motives might not be all that laudable, but with his desire to upset the expressed will of the voters of western Portland he had made us fully aware of the lurking dangers of Section 40 of the Constitution.

Read the whole article here.

Snippet(s):

"For 45 years this clause has remained virtually unnoticed, certainly unused and surely as a time bomb waiting to undermine the unity of our people and, as we now see, create utter confusion in our parliamentary affairs.

Purporting to protect our Parliament from outside influences, Section 40 has made second-class citizens of hundreds of thousands of well-thinking Jamaicans at home and abroad.

It has also stirred many unreasonable voices to intone against regional neighbours, including a very friendly country that has proven to be our greatest benefactor and trading partner - the United States of America.

All this is being done in the name of a brand of nationalism that does not ring true; and does not take cognisance of the fact that this supposedly protective rule does not apply to such high offices as the Governor General, the Police Commissioner, and probably the head of the military force."