From my archive of press clippings:
Jamaica Gleaner
Whose rights are protected?
Published: Sunday March 7, 2010 0 Comments and 0 Reactions
The Editor,
Sir:
A most interesting situation has occurred with the Christopher 'Dudus' Coke extradition case. The prime minister has loudly declared that Jamaicans have "constitutional rights that do not end at Liguanea". The method of attaining evidence against Coke, we are told, was illegal, and it is on these grounds that the extradition has not been granted. How interesting!
Read the whole letter here.
Snippet(s):
"Was the Constitution being upheld when you had as many as four members of parliament sitting in the legislature illegally on account of the fact that they had sworn allegiance to a foreign power?"
_____
I am, etc.,
CANUTE SHAW
scanshaw@gmail.com
Kingston 5
Showing posts with label allegiance. Show all posts
Showing posts with label allegiance. Show all posts
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Thursday, September 3, 2009
JG - I will renounce! Hay-Webster to give up US citizenship
From my archive of press clippings:
Jamaica Gleaner
I will renounce! Hay-Webster to give up US citizenship
Published: Sunday August 2, 2009
Hay-Webster
Tyrone Reid, Sunday Gleaner Reporter
South Central St Catherine Member of Parliament (MP) Sharon Hay-Webster has decided to give up the land of her birth - the United States of America (USA).
Read the whole article here.
Snippet(s):
"Hay-Webster, an Opposition MP, has initiated the process of renouncing her US citizenship in order to remain a member of the House of Representatives.
Fifteen months ago, an unyielding Hay-Webster, with legal team in tow, was ready for a showdown with her political adversaries to prove that despite possessing a US passport, she was eligible to sit in the lower house.
But yesterday Hay-Webster hoisted the proverbial white flag. "I told my constituency executive on Friday night that I intend to renounce and the party chairman is also aware … I told them I have been in discussion with the embassy already," she told The Sunday Gleaner in solemn tones."
"Her move to relinquish her US citizenship is the latest causality in the politically charged dual citizenship maelstrom rocking Gordon House.
Already, the court has booted three MPs - Daryl Vaz, Gregory Mair and Michael Stern - from Parliament because of the constitutional breach that rendered them ineligible to sit in the lower house when they were elected in the 2007 general election."
&
"Under the Jamaican Con-stitution, non-commonwealth nationals, who have pledged allegiance to a foreign power, are disqualified to sit in the House."
tyrone.reid@gleanerjm.com
Jamaica Gleaner
I will renounce! Hay-Webster to give up US citizenship
Published: Sunday August 2, 2009
Hay-Webster
Tyrone Reid, Sunday Gleaner Reporter
South Central St Catherine Member of Parliament (MP) Sharon Hay-Webster has decided to give up the land of her birth - the United States of America (USA).
Read the whole article here.
Snippet(s):
"Hay-Webster, an Opposition MP, has initiated the process of renouncing her US citizenship in order to remain a member of the House of Representatives.
Fifteen months ago, an unyielding Hay-Webster, with legal team in tow, was ready for a showdown with her political adversaries to prove that despite possessing a US passport, she was eligible to sit in the lower house.
But yesterday Hay-Webster hoisted the proverbial white flag. "I told my constituency executive on Friday night that I intend to renounce and the party chairman is also aware … I told them I have been in discussion with the embassy already," she told The Sunday Gleaner in solemn tones."
"Her move to relinquish her US citizenship is the latest causality in the politically charged dual citizenship maelstrom rocking Gordon House.
Already, the court has booted three MPs - Daryl Vaz, Gregory Mair and Michael Stern - from Parliament because of the constitutional breach that rendered them ineligible to sit in the lower house when they were elected in the 2007 general election."
&
"Under the Jamaican Con-stitution, non-commonwealth nationals, who have pledged allegiance to a foreign power, are disqualified to sit in the House."
tyrone.reid@gleanerjm.com
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
JO - Stop foreign allegiance nonsense
Jamaica Observer
Stop foreign allegiance nonsense
Friday, April 03, 2009
Dear Editor,
The denial of Jamaican citizens the right to be elected to our Parliament, regardless of theoretical allegiance to foreign powers, cannot be justified and is inconsistent with our National Motto, "Out of Many, One People".
Read the whole letter here.
Snippet(s):
"How can it be justified when the United States, the most prosperous and most powerful country in the history of the world, has no such prohibition? It is known as a land of immigrants, because of its policies and the generation of economic wealth and power through the mobilisation of skills and intellect from anywhere on our planet. Like the US, Jamaica is also a land of immigrants who have been making tremendous contributions to economic growth and prosperity, so why should foreign nationality be a factor in public administration?"
_____
Owen S Crosbie
3 Hotel Street
Mandeville, Manchester
oss@cwjamaica.com
Stop foreign allegiance nonsense
Friday, April 03, 2009
Dear Editor,
The denial of Jamaican citizens the right to be elected to our Parliament, regardless of theoretical allegiance to foreign powers, cannot be justified and is inconsistent with our National Motto, "Out of Many, One People".
Read the whole letter here.
Snippet(s):
"How can it be justified when the United States, the most prosperous and most powerful country in the history of the world, has no such prohibition? It is known as a land of immigrants, because of its policies and the generation of economic wealth and power through the mobilisation of skills and intellect from anywhere on our planet. Like the US, Jamaica is also a land of immigrants who have been making tremendous contributions to economic growth and prosperity, so why should foreign nationality be a factor in public administration?"
_____
Owen S Crosbie
3 Hotel Street
Mandeville, Manchester
oss@cwjamaica.com
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
JG - 'What a waste!' - Gov't MP says Jamaica could have done without $30m by-election
Jamaica Gleaner
'What a waste!' - Gov't MP says Jamaica could have done without $30m by-election
Published: Wednesday April 1, 2009
Daryl Vaz (left) is congratulated by his father, Douglas Vaz, after being sworn in as member of parliament for West Portland yesterday, while Senator Arthur Williams and a visitor look on from the well. The elder Vaz is a former minister in the Jamaica Labour Party government of the 1980s. - Rudolph Brown/Chief Photographer
While welcoming her Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) colleague, Daryl Vaz, back to the House of Representatives yesterday, Shahine Robinson, the member of parliament for North East St Ann, declared the West Portland by-election was an "unnecessary waste" of taxpayer dollars.
Read the whole article here.
Snippet(s):
"Vaz was ejected from Parliament after the court held that at the time of his nomination for the September 2007 general election, he had pledged allegiance to the United States and, therefore, was disqualified from sitting as a parliamentarian."
'What a waste!' - Gov't MP says Jamaica could have done without $30m by-election
Published: Wednesday April 1, 2009
Daryl Vaz (left) is congratulated by his father, Douglas Vaz, after being sworn in as member of parliament for West Portland yesterday, while Senator Arthur Williams and a visitor look on from the well. The elder Vaz is a former minister in the Jamaica Labour Party government of the 1980s. - Rudolph Brown/Chief Photographer
While welcoming her Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) colleague, Daryl Vaz, back to the House of Representatives yesterday, Shahine Robinson, the member of parliament for North East St Ann, declared the West Portland by-election was an "unnecessary waste" of taxpayer dollars.
Read the whole article here.
Snippet(s):
"Vaz was ejected from Parliament after the court held that at the time of his nomination for the September 2007 general election, he had pledged allegiance to the United States and, therefore, was disqualified from sitting as a parliamentarian."
JG - Appeal Court tells all
From my archive of press clippings:
Jamaica Gleaner
Appeal Court tells all
Published: Sunday March 15, 2009
The Court of Appeal has said in its very detailed reasons for upholding Chief Justice Zaila McCalla's ruling that there should be a by-election in the West Portland constituency, that the "electorate are not to have imposed upon them a person for whom the majority of them did not cast their votes".
Read the whole article here.
Snippet(s):
"People's National Party candidate, Abe Dabdoub, had filed an election petition after the September 3, 2007, general election, contending that Member of Parliament (MP) Daryl Vaz had dual citizenship and was not entitled to be an MP.
Chief Justice Zaila McCalla heard the election petition and ruled that because Vaz, who had inherited American citizenship from his mother, obtained a United States passport as an adult and travelled on it, he had pledged allegiance to a foreign power.
The chief justice ruled that Vaz was not eligible to sit in Parliament and ordered a by-election."
Jamaica Gleaner
Appeal Court tells all
Published: Sunday March 15, 2009
The Court of Appeal has said in its very detailed reasons for upholding Chief Justice Zaila McCalla's ruling that there should be a by-election in the West Portland constituency, that the "electorate are not to have imposed upon them a person for whom the majority of them did not cast their votes".
Read the whole article here.
Snippet(s):
"People's National Party candidate, Abe Dabdoub, had filed an election petition after the September 3, 2007, general election, contending that Member of Parliament (MP) Daryl Vaz had dual citizenship and was not entitled to be an MP.
Chief Justice Zaila McCalla heard the election petition and ruled that because Vaz, who had inherited American citizenship from his mother, obtained a United States passport as an adult and travelled on it, he had pledged allegiance to a foreign power.
The chief justice ruled that Vaz was not eligible to sit in Parliament and ordered a by-election."
Thursday, March 5, 2009
JG - Abe doubtful - PNP struggles to find candidate for West Portland
Jamaica Gleaner
Abe doubtful - PNP struggles to find candidate for West Portland
Published: Sunday March 1, 2009
With five days to nomination day in West Portland, the Opposition People's National Party (PNP) is yet to settle on a candidate to face off with Jamaica Labour Party's Daryl Vaz for the seat.
Read the whole article here.
Snippet(s):
"The Court of Appeal ousted the Jamaica Labour party (JAP) Daryl Vaz as Member of Parliament on Friday when it upheld a ruling that Vaz was not eligible to sit in Parliament as he had pledge allegiance to a foreign power.
Vaz at the time of his nomination had American citizenship. He has since renounced it."
Abe doubtful - PNP struggles to find candidate for West Portland
Published: Sunday March 1, 2009
With five days to nomination day in West Portland, the Opposition People's National Party (PNP) is yet to settle on a candidate to face off with Jamaica Labour Party's Daryl Vaz for the seat.
Read the whole article here.
Snippet(s):
"The Court of Appeal ousted the Jamaica Labour party (JAP) Daryl Vaz as Member of Parliament on Friday when it upheld a ruling that Vaz was not eligible to sit in Parliament as he had pledge allegiance to a foreign power.
Vaz at the time of his nomination had American citizenship. He has since renounced it."
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
JO - All ineligible MPs should be removed
Jamaica Observer
All ineligible MPs should be removed
CLAUDE ROBINSON
Sunday, March 01, 2009
THE ruling by the Court of Appeal - upholding Chief Justice Zaila McCalla's ruling that a by-election is the appropriate remedy in the dual citizenship case involving the JLP's West Portland MP Daryl Vaz and the PNP's Abe Dabdoub - has ended speculation about a general election soon.
CLAUDE ROBINSON
Prime Minister Bruce Golding, speaking to reporters shortly after the ruling was handed down Friday morning, said that the "distraction" of the long drawn-out case was now over and a by-election would be held on Monday, March 23.
Read the whole article here.
Snippet(s):
"Of course, the case was more than a 'distraction' as it went to the heart of our constitutional democracy, namely, eligibility for election to the Parliament, the supreme law-making body in the country.
Accordingly, several pressing matters arised from the ruling, including the status of at least five other members of parliament whose eligibility to sit in the House of Representatives must now be under a cloud of constitutional uncertainty.
This group includes three MPs representing the governing Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) namely, Michael Stern (North West Clarendon), Shahine Robinson (North East St Ann) and Gregory Mair (North East St Catherine), all of whom are under challenge in the courts for being 'dual citizens'."
"This constitutional uncertainty surrounding these cases should be cleared up immediately because, at this stage, there can be no doubt about the meaning of the rulings, first by the chief justice and now by the full Court of Appeal comprising President Seymour Panton, Justice Algernon Smith and Justice Karl Harrison: Any person sitting in Parliament who was eligible to be elected should vacate the seat and a by-election held.
At issue now is whether those persons who know they are in violation of the constitution should so declare and voluntarily step aside, or whether each case should wind through the long, legal process (evidenced in West Portland). I believe they should step aside so the constitution can be respected in the observance rather than in the breach."
&
"In April 2008, Chief Justice Zaila McCalla ruled that JLP's West Portland MP Daryl Vaz was not eligible to be a member of parliament because he was a US citizen at the time of the election in September 2007. She ruled that there should be a by-election in the constituency of West Portland, which Vaz represented in Parliament.
The chief justice ruled that by virtue of the fact that Mr Vaz obtained an American passport when he was an adult and travelled on it, he had, "by his own action", pledged allegiance to a foreign power in clear violation of the constitutional provisions regarding eligibility to contest national elections in Jamaica."
All ineligible MPs should be removed
CLAUDE ROBINSON
Sunday, March 01, 2009
THE ruling by the Court of Appeal - upholding Chief Justice Zaila McCalla's ruling that a by-election is the appropriate remedy in the dual citizenship case involving the JLP's West Portland MP Daryl Vaz and the PNP's Abe Dabdoub - has ended speculation about a general election soon.
CLAUDE ROBINSON
Prime Minister Bruce Golding, speaking to reporters shortly after the ruling was handed down Friday morning, said that the "distraction" of the long drawn-out case was now over and a by-election would be held on Monday, March 23.
Read the whole article here.
Snippet(s):
"Of course, the case was more than a 'distraction' as it went to the heart of our constitutional democracy, namely, eligibility for election to the Parliament, the supreme law-making body in the country.
Accordingly, several pressing matters arised from the ruling, including the status of at least five other members of parliament whose eligibility to sit in the House of Representatives must now be under a cloud of constitutional uncertainty.
This group includes three MPs representing the governing Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) namely, Michael Stern (North West Clarendon), Shahine Robinson (North East St Ann) and Gregory Mair (North East St Catherine), all of whom are under challenge in the courts for being 'dual citizens'."
"This constitutional uncertainty surrounding these cases should be cleared up immediately because, at this stage, there can be no doubt about the meaning of the rulings, first by the chief justice and now by the full Court of Appeal comprising President Seymour Panton, Justice Algernon Smith and Justice Karl Harrison: Any person sitting in Parliament who was eligible to be elected should vacate the seat and a by-election held.
At issue now is whether those persons who know they are in violation of the constitution should so declare and voluntarily step aside, or whether each case should wind through the long, legal process (evidenced in West Portland). I believe they should step aside so the constitution can be respected in the observance rather than in the breach."
&
"In April 2008, Chief Justice Zaila McCalla ruled that JLP's West Portland MP Daryl Vaz was not eligible to be a member of parliament because he was a US citizen at the time of the election in September 2007. She ruled that there should be a by-election in the constituency of West Portland, which Vaz represented in Parliament.
The chief justice ruled that by virtue of the fact that Mr Vaz obtained an American passport when he was an adult and travelled on it, he had, "by his own action", pledged allegiance to a foreign power in clear violation of the constitutional provisions regarding eligibility to contest national elections in Jamaica."
Saturday, February 21, 2009
WVN-JO - Patriotism, sense of belonging rewards of citizenship journey
From my archive of press clippings:
West Volusia News-Journal Online
Patriotism, sense of belonging rewards of citizenship journey
January 22, 2009
By PATRICIO G. BALONA Staff writer
ORLANDO -- "I pledge allegiance to U.S. flag and the country. . ."
"Daddy, you are not saying it right," my daughter interrupted.
Her tiny hand over her heart, my daughter, Josee, recited the 31-word pledge so naturally.
I repeated after her, memorizing the verse as I drove to the Orlando office of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to become a U.S. citizen.
West Volusia News-Journal Online
Patriotism, sense of belonging rewards of citizenship journey
January 22, 2009
By PATRICIO G. BALONA Staff writer
ORLANDO -- "I pledge allegiance to U.S. flag and the country. . ."
"Daddy, you are not saying it right," my daughter interrupted.
Her tiny hand over her heart, my daughter, Josee, recited the 31-word pledge so naturally.
I repeated after her, memorizing the verse as I drove to the Orlando office of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to become a U.S. citizen.
Read the whole article here.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
JG - The GG, Church and State
Jamaica Gleaner
The GG, Church and State
Published: Sunday January 18, 2009
Martin Henry, Contributor
Constitutionally, the Jamaican state is a secular democratic state. The State, however, has a strong Christian cultural and legal foundation. And not just any version of Christianity. This is a Church of England-based secular democratic state. The Anglican Church was disestablished here in 1879.
The laws of the land privilege a Christian, Protestant, Anglican view. And nowhere more so than in the special privilege accorded one day of worship above others. Sunday is a weekly public holiday [holy day] by law.
Read the whole article here.
Snippet(s):
"Under our secular democratic Constitution, any citizen could possibly be called upon to represent Her Majesty the Queen as head of state. Citizens include Jews and Seventh-day Adventists and others who regard Saturday/Sabbath as the weekly holy day, and Muslims whose weekly holy day is Friday."
""Every person in Jamaica, the Constitution says, "is entitled to the fundamental rights and freedoms of the individual ... whatever his race, place of origin, political opinions, colour, creed or sex, but subject to respect for the rights and freedoms of others and for the public interest." And, "Except with his own consent, no person shall be hindered in the enjoyment of his freedom of conscience ... the said freedom includes freedom of thought and of religion."
The appointment of Seventh-day Adventist Dr Patrick Allen as the country's next governor general is, therefore, a test of religious diversity and equity.
He will represent the Queen, who is the head of the Jamaican state. "The executive authority of Jamaica is vested in Her Majesty. There shall be a Parliament of Jamaica which shall consist of Her Majesty, a Senate and a House of Representatives. There shall be a Governor-General of Jamaica who shall be appointed by Her Majesty and shall hold office during Her Majesty's pleasure and who shall be Her Majesty's representative in Jamaica."
But the Queen is not only head of state for Britain, Jamaica and several other Commonwealth states, she is the regal titular head of the Church of England. And "a person appointed to the office of Governor-General shall, before entering upon the duties of that office, take and subscribe to the oaths of allegiance and for the due execution of the office of Governor-General in the forms set out in the First Schedule to this Constitution"."
&
"One of the most important functions of the office of governor general, which, in practice, is largely ceremonial, is the signing of bills into law.
No governor general of Jamaica has yet refused to sign a bill into law."
The GG, Church and State
Published: Sunday January 18, 2009
Martin Henry, Contributor
Constitutionally, the Jamaican state is a secular democratic state. The State, however, has a strong Christian cultural and legal foundation. And not just any version of Christianity. This is a Church of England-based secular democratic state. The Anglican Church was disestablished here in 1879.
The laws of the land privilege a Christian, Protestant, Anglican view. And nowhere more so than in the special privilege accorded one day of worship above others. Sunday is a weekly public holiday [holy day] by law.
Read the whole article here.
Snippet(s):
"Under our secular democratic Constitution, any citizen could possibly be called upon to represent Her Majesty the Queen as head of state. Citizens include Jews and Seventh-day Adventists and others who regard Saturday/Sabbath as the weekly holy day, and Muslims whose weekly holy day is Friday."
""Every person in Jamaica, the Constitution says, "is entitled to the fundamental rights and freedoms of the individual ... whatever his race, place of origin, political opinions, colour, creed or sex, but subject to respect for the rights and freedoms of others and for the public interest." And, "Except with his own consent, no person shall be hindered in the enjoyment of his freedom of conscience ... the said freedom includes freedom of thought and of religion."
The appointment of Seventh-day Adventist Dr Patrick Allen as the country's next governor general is, therefore, a test of religious diversity and equity.
He will represent the Queen, who is the head of the Jamaican state. "The executive authority of Jamaica is vested in Her Majesty. There shall be a Parliament of Jamaica which shall consist of Her Majesty, a Senate and a House of Representatives. There shall be a Governor-General of Jamaica who shall be appointed by Her Majesty and shall hold office during Her Majesty's pleasure and who shall be Her Majesty's representative in Jamaica."
But the Queen is not only head of state for Britain, Jamaica and several other Commonwealth states, she is the regal titular head of the Church of England. And "a person appointed to the office of Governor-General shall, before entering upon the duties of that office, take and subscribe to the oaths of allegiance and for the due execution of the office of Governor-General in the forms set out in the First Schedule to this Constitution"."
&
"One of the most important functions of the office of governor general, which, in practice, is largely ceremonial, is the signing of bills into law.
No governor general of Jamaica has yet refused to sign a bill into law."
Monday, January 19, 2009
JG - Jamaica, Cuba and the Caribbean's voice
From my archive of press clippings:
Jamaica Gleaner
Jamaica, Cuba and the Caribbean's voice
published: Sunday May 18, 2008
Robert Buddan -POLITICS OF OUR TIME
Bruce Golding's visit to Cuba last week signifies two things. The realities of the world order have made redundant the old idea that 'the west' or the United States can be the centre of our foreign policy as the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) thought it should be in the 1960s and 1980s. The People's National Party (PNP) had never believed it and courted 'the South', including Cuba, in the 1970s, the 1990s and beyond. Right up to the September elections, supporters of the JLP were still naively of the old view. But the crises of oil, trade and food have kept the JLP doing business with Venezuela, Cuba and China and remaining steadfast in CARICOM, even calling on Guyana to help with rice production.
Read the whole article here.
Snippet(s):
"The other signal is this: Jamaica and Cuba can entertain relations on a bilateral level to meet specific needs, such as in agriculture, water, housing, tourism and health. But at the same time, they can engage in a more global vision of change in the world order."
"Golding has promised President Raul Castro that he will use Jamaica's influence to improve relations between Cuba and the United States.
This is not likely to help much. Golding has little, if any, influence over Bush.
What is more, with four Jamaican Members of Parliament on the government's side holding American citizenship and another having Venezuelan citizenship, the Jamaican government could be seriously compromised considering the aggressive actions being taken against American citizens who violate the Cuban embargo and whose allegiance is sworn to the United States."
&
"US policy towards Cuba was not an irrelevant hangover of the Cold War but a clash of two world orders.
There is the current world order that the United States supports and a different vision of a world order that Cuba supports, one costly to the United States."
Jamaica Gleaner
Jamaica, Cuba and the Caribbean's voice
published: Sunday May 18, 2008
Robert Buddan -POLITICS OF OUR TIME
Bruce Golding's visit to Cuba last week signifies two things. The realities of the world order have made redundant the old idea that 'the west' or the United States can be the centre of our foreign policy as the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) thought it should be in the 1960s and 1980s. The People's National Party (PNP) had never believed it and courted 'the South', including Cuba, in the 1970s, the 1990s and beyond. Right up to the September elections, supporters of the JLP were still naively of the old view. But the crises of oil, trade and food have kept the JLP doing business with Venezuela, Cuba and China and remaining steadfast in CARICOM, even calling on Guyana to help with rice production.
Read the whole article here.
Snippet(s):
"The other signal is this: Jamaica and Cuba can entertain relations on a bilateral level to meet specific needs, such as in agriculture, water, housing, tourism and health. But at the same time, they can engage in a more global vision of change in the world order."
"Golding has promised President Raul Castro that he will use Jamaica's influence to improve relations between Cuba and the United States.
This is not likely to help much. Golding has little, if any, influence over Bush.
What is more, with four Jamaican Members of Parliament on the government's side holding American citizenship and another having Venezuelan citizenship, the Jamaican government could be seriously compromised considering the aggressive actions being taken against American citizens who violate the Cuban embargo and whose allegiance is sworn to the United States."
&
"US policy towards Cuba was not an irrelevant hangover of the Cold War but a clash of two world orders.
There is the current world order that the United States supports and a different vision of a world order that Cuba supports, one costly to the United States."
Saturday, January 17, 2009
JG - PNP not softening stance on foreign allegiance
From my archive of press clippings:
Jamaica Gleaner
PNP not softening stance on foreign allegiance
published: Sunday May 18, 2008
Daraine Luton, Sunday Gleaner Reporter
OPPOSITION LEADER Portia Simpson Miller has hinted that no discussions at the Vale Royal bipartisan talks would lead to the People's National Party (PNP) softening its position against members of parliament (MPs) who owe allegiance to foreign states and powers sitting in the legislature.
Read the whole article here.
Snippet(s):
"The constitution prohibits any person who, by virtue of his/her own act, has pledged or sworn allegiance to a foreign power or state."
Jamaica Gleaner
PNP not softening stance on foreign allegiance
published: Sunday May 18, 2008
Daraine Luton, Sunday Gleaner Reporter
OPPOSITION LEADER Portia Simpson Miller has hinted that no discussions at the Vale Royal bipartisan talks would lead to the People's National Party (PNP) softening its position against members of parliament (MPs) who owe allegiance to foreign states and powers sitting in the legislature.
Read the whole article here.
Snippet(s):
"The constitution prohibits any person who, by virtue of his/her own act, has pledged or sworn allegiance to a foreign power or state."
Friday, January 2, 2009
JG - Can't have it both ways
From my archive of press clippings:
Jamaica Gleaner
Can't have it both ways
published: Sunday May 11, 2008
The Editor,
Sir:
While I commend my fellow Jamaicans for helping the Jamaican economy through remittances, (of which I myself contribute), I think it is selfish to have your cake and eat it too.
Read the whole letter here.
Snippets:
"(W)hile more needs to be done, I do not think that those who have allegiance to another country should be allowed to write the laws of a country that they can leave when the going gets tough. Those individuals with dual citizenship (including myself), have the luxury of walking away and living elsewhere at a whim. With the knowledge and money my fellow dual citizenship cohorts have, they can make a significant contribution to the country in many other ways, and you do not have to be in Parliament to do it. We all know this. Be fully committed, not half way in and half way out."
&
"I must commend Mr Vaz for relinquishing his US citizenship in the interest of our country. Personally, I think I would have chosen the Danville Walker approach. Let us not forget that there are many people in Jamaica qualified enough to do a good work and a great job of leading our country (nepotism aside). Let's face facts. You can't have it both ways, and you shouldn't."
Jamaica Gleaner
Can't have it both ways
published: Sunday May 11, 2008
The Editor,
Sir:
While I commend my fellow Jamaicans for helping the Jamaican economy through remittances, (of which I myself contribute), I think it is selfish to have your cake and eat it too.
Read the whole letter here.
Snippets:
"(W)hile more needs to be done, I do not think that those who have allegiance to another country should be allowed to write the laws of a country that they can leave when the going gets tough. Those individuals with dual citizenship (including myself), have the luxury of walking away and living elsewhere at a whim. With the knowledge and money my fellow dual citizenship cohorts have, they can make a significant contribution to the country in many other ways, and you do not have to be in Parliament to do it. We all know this. Be fully committed, not half way in and half way out."
&
"I must commend Mr Vaz for relinquishing his US citizenship in the interest of our country. Personally, I think I would have chosen the Danville Walker approach. Let us not forget that there are many people in Jamaica qualified enough to do a good work and a great job of leading our country (nepotism aside). Let's face facts. You can't have it both ways, and you shouldn't."
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