The Editor, Sir:

I WAS living in the United States when I took out my citizenship; I realised that my fundamental rights as a Jamaican were given up voluntarily by my act. When I return home I expect to stay within the time the immigration officers see fit, not register to vote, etc.

I have read with much concern the major rationale expressed by most of my fellow 'diasporians' that they contribute so much through remittances and they are so well trained and if they want to return it will prevent them from either running for election or getting sensitive positions in the Government.

Well, how many of us can get certain positions in our adoptive country if we go and swear allegiance to another country, even if we were born in some of these places?

Personally, I think if one wants to return to Jamaica and fully participate in politics or receive certain sensitive jobs, then it should be no ifs, and/or buts about acting within the Constitution.

Why should Jamaica bend?

Isn't that why a lot of us took out US citizenship? We know we cannot obtain certain jobs unless we are citizens, we know our children cannot become officers in the military unless they are citizens, so why should Jamaica bend?

The framers of our Consti-tution were no idiots, they knew then what they were doing!

I am, etc.,

PATRICK A BECKFORD

pbeckf01@yahoo.com

Via Go-Jamaica