Thwaites

CENTRAL KINGSTON Member of Parliament (MP) Ronald Thwaites has made good on his promise to move a motion in the House, seeking to force Parliamentarians to declare whether they have pledged allegiance or obedience to a foreign power.

In bringing the motion Tuesday, Thwaites said: "Be it resolved that every member of this Honourable House declare, in this chamber, his or her citizenship or permanent residency in any country other than Jamaica.

And be it further resolved that, as a matter of urgency, this Honourable House debates under what, if any circumstances, citizens with dual nationality ought to be excluded from Parliamentary membership."

Motion to be re-tabled

Thwaites motion, however, will not be debated as Parliament porogues next week. The motion, therefore, would have to be re-tabled when the new parliamentary year begins in April.

The issue of dual nationality and qualification for membership in either Houses of Parliament has been a matter for intense debate in the last two years.

Daryl Vaz became the first member of parliament to be disqualified from sitting in the House after the court found he was a United States citizen.

Under the constitution, persons who have sworn allegiance or obedience to a foreign power are not entitled to sit in the House of Representatives.

Vaz relinquished his US citizenship and faced the electorates of West Portland in a by-election on Monday, which he won.

Three Parliamentarians - Gregory Mair, Shahine Robinson and Michael Stern - are facing court challenges on their eligibility.

Three other MPs have confessed to have had or to have citizenship in foreign countries. South Manchester MP Michael Peart is a Briton but is entitled under the constitution to sit in the House as the Constitution makes provision for Commonwealth citizens.

No challenge

South Central St Catherine MP Sharon Hay Webster is an American by birth but no challenge has been made about her qualification.

Similarly, West Hanover MP Ian Hayles was an American citizen but has since renounced his citizenship.

Some legislators and political commentators have argued that MPs should declare if they are dual citizens, so as not to compromise the integrity of the Parliament.

Prime Minister Bruce Golding has said that his government would be seeking consensus with the Opposition with a view to amending the eligibility provisions in the constitution.

daraine.luton@gleanerjm.com