THE EDITOR, Sir:

IT IS interesting to note the increasing chorus of calls, some rather belatedly, for members of parliament to declare their citizenship status. Among the calls is the following in The Sunday Gleaner, May 18, stating, among other things, that:

"While we would want to believe that decency and morality would propel the members to do the right thing, we are clear that this is a matter that ought not be left only to the individual parliamentarians. Indeed, the Speaker should ask for a declaration from each member of his or her citizen-ship status, and from there, seek a judicial review of those whom he may deem to be in breach. The party leaders need, at the same time, to fashion a response to the potential fallout."

Suggestions

Although the call seems to be in response to recent judicial determi-nations, we note that another newspaper (Sunday Herald) had made the call from as early as September 13, 2007. We, too, have enjoined the Speaker of the House to take a certain procedure which would yield a similar outcome.

We wish to issue two advisories:

1. That the call should be extended to Senators as the provision in section 39 applies equally to those appointed as Senators or elected as members of the House of Representatives.

2. That the roll call could, in fact, turn out to be the death knell for the present regime as, from the information currently available, there are more offending members on the Government side than on the Opposition benches. Indeed, if such a roll call were to be under-taken, there would a very real and distinct possibility that the Government would lose its slim majority.

What a bangarang!

I am, etc.,

Dr PAUL ASHLEY

Attorney-at-law

1 Braemar Avenue

Kingston 10