Dual Citizenship Threatening Jamaican Elections

The rumors have been swirling but now the written complaints are now lodged that several Jamaica Labour Party(JLP) candidates are U.S. Citizens. The Jamaican constitution forbids a citizen that has sworn the oath of allegiance to another country to run in the elections or hold political office. In effect they could be prevented from contesting the General Elections on August 27, 2007.

"Rumors dem spreading?"
The the rumors and allegations are Daryl Vaz, James Robertson, Shahine Robinson, her brother Peter Fakhourie , Devon McDaniel and Everald Warmington are US citizens. Devon McDaniel has come out already and outrightly denied the allegations and has threaten to sue the People National Party. Mrs. Robinson has been evasive and there has been no word from the others.

At least 4 candidates are in seats that although the voting results could be close could prove decisive if the JLP is to win their first General Elections since 1980(or 1983 if you count that snap election). If these candidates are knocked out the the Elections are as good as over.

Section 39 states that subject to the provisions of section 40, election nominees must have resided in Jamaica for the 12 months prior to being nominated as a candidate.

"No person shall be qualified as an elected member of the House of Representatives who is by virtue of his own act under any acknowledgment of allegiance, obedience or adherence to a foreign power or state".

A Weapon?
A Radio Jamaica report suggested the PNP had problems too. The PNP claims that two of its candidates who had dual citizenship - Norman Horne and Ian Hayles - have surrendered their U.S. citizenship. This is interesting as the PNP seems to have known about this problem but kept this knowledge to be used as a weapon at the opportune time instead of trying to protect the Jamaican democracy by raising the alarm long before nomination day. On the other hand if this issue is true, the JLP secretariat would be found to have been lazy and should take much blame for this.

If it is the JLP Candidates are the found to be U.S. Citizens, they must be shackled by the Jamaican constitution and law and prevented from running, if they are unable to renounce their U.S. citizenship. Hopefully that is not the case as the last thing Jamaica needs right now is for the elections to be won by default.

Related:
Any foreigners in the House? Some party candidates said to possess dual citizenship

Comments

Anonymous said…
What I cannot understand is why people think this is some political plot for the PNP. If a group of people say they want to be in charge the least they could have done was to read the constitution. How can you want to govern a set of people when you don't the laws or the constitution? This is especially shameful as Shahine Robinson was asked about this matter back in 2002 and was evasive and the matter was dismissed. So what's the big deal now? She had 5 years to correct the matter and to pass on the information to her brother and others. Why should we give them a "bligh"? The PNP was smart to tell Norman Horne to surrender his BEFORE nomination day but do we cuss them for this? I don't think so....
7:26 PM
Anonymous said…
Shashine Robinson sat in parliament applied for her citizenship and received it in 2005
10:07 PM
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