The Editor, Sir:

It is ridiculous to most Jamaicans abroad especially those with dual citizenship that this fiasco is happening in Jamaica. The politicians in question could have turned their backs on Jamaica and renounced their Jamaican citizenship prior to taking up citizenship with another country if they were not born in that country and had acquired citizenship by naturalisation. But being patriotic as they are, they chose not to. And one could ask the question, why?

Dual nationality/citizen

I am a Jamaican living in England with dual nationality/citizenship having married a British-born citizen. Our children will be eligible to acquire Jamaican citizenship even though they were born in England as British citizens.

I have struggling friends and family who left Jamaica years ago for the economic welfare of their families, to create a better life, to gain better education and better jobs. Some have even set up businesses in Jamaica, maintained their properties in Jamaica and still travel to Jamaica two or three times a year. They have all acquired citizenship in another country, and have not renounced Jamaica. They are proud to say they are Jamaican and are the first to defend their country and its people.

Is it right for a court to decide that these people cannot hold a democratically elected seat in Parliament that the constituents voted in? Will a court tell me that years to come when I retire in Jamaica, should my children or I decide to enter politics in Jamaica, we will be denied the right to hold a position in parliament as an elected MP that the people democratically voted for, because of partisan politics to gain an edge in seats?

I am, etc.,

MARSHA MILLAR (Mrs)

manatal@yahoo.com

London

Via Go-Jamaica