The Editor, Sir:

The ongoing issue of our members of parliament swearing allegiance to other states has opened my eyes as to how much the Jamaican politicians, past and present have run rings around our ignorance. I am yet to be convinced that since the Jamaican constitution has been formulated it was never a major criterion for those aspiring to represent us in the House of Representatives to be fully acquainted with what is required of them constitutionally.

Attention needed

Let me state that it is my firm belief that urgent attention needs to be paid to this constitutional issue and clear guidelines be enacted with regards to those who vie for the office of prime minister and members of parliament. I however believe that for anyone to properly represent the constituents, he or she should be a legal citizen without any encumbrances that may require another sovereign state demanding his or her services at any given time because of their legal commitments.

Permanent address

Other questions to be answered by these representatives of the people when completing their US customs declaration forms for landing in the USA are: where do they place as their permanent address and what was their mission in Jamaica, was it vacation or business?

I am left to conclude that there are parliamentarians paid by the public purse who are in truth and in fact tourists to our island having sworn by an oath upon the receipt of their immigrant visas to abide by the laws and constitution of the American government.

I am, etc.,

MICHAEL DUNN

micberd@yahoo.com

Via Go-Jamaica