ABBOTT

British Member of Parliament Diane Abbott has cautioned that the constitutional matters that have been filed in the Jamaican courts, in relation to Members of Parliament-elect who allegedly have dual citizenship, could create instability in the country.

The British MP, who is of Jamaican descent, yesterday questioned why these issues had not been challenged before the election, arguing that many Jamaicans in the diaspora wanted to see a smooth transition in the change of administration.

"I think what people outside of Jamaica want to see is a smooth transfer of power, and it's a shame that these issues couldn't have been tested before the elections, rather than having it going to the courts now where it leads to instability. And that's not good for Jamaica, not good for business, not good for how it is seen in the eyes of the world," she told The Gleaner yesterday, after attending the newspaper's board of directors luncheon.

The question of dual citizenship, according to the British MP, has never arisenin British politics.

However, she pointed out that, if a citizen of the United Kingdom had dual nationality, it would be seen as unpatriotic for that person to run for a seat in the House of Commons.

British system different

She noted though, that a British citizen who had sworn allegiance to a foreign power would not be barred from becoming a Member of Parliament.

Two losing candidates of the People's National Party (PNP) have asked the court to rule whether two Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Members of Parliament-elect are eligible to take their seat in Gordon House.

Manley Bowen, a former PNP MP, and the JLP's Shahine Robinson, who contested the North East St. Ann seat, and the PNP's Abe Dabdoub and his JLP opponent Daryl Vaz, from Portland Western, are expected to do battle in the court on the issue of dual citizenship.

Section 41 (2) of the Jamaican Constitution states that "no person shall be qualified to be appointed as a senator or elected as a member of the House of Representatives who is, by virtue of his own act, under any acknowledgement of allegiance, obedience or adherence to a foreign power or state".

The Bruce Golding-led JLP emerged from the political wilderness after 18 years to score a victory in the September 3 general election, taking 33 seats to the PNP's 27.

Mr. Golding's 18-member Cabinet will be sworn in today at King's House.