Opposition Leader Mark Golding’s decision to renounce his British citizenship aligns with the stance of former prime minister and People's National Party (PNP) leader PJ Patterson, who argued that only Jamaican nationals should sit in Parliament. Political commentator Dr Paul Ashley urged Golding to ensure all parliamentary Opposition members and candidates do the same and called on Prime Minister Andrew Holness to apply this standard across the board. Golding's move aims to prevent his dual status from impacting the PNP's chances in the next general election.

'I  will renounce'

Golding signals he will give up UK citizenship; Robinson joins in move as call made for others to do the same

Jamaica Gleaner/1 Jul 2024/Edmond Campbell/Senior Staff Reporter 

AFTER WEEKS of hammering from politicians linked to the ruling Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) about his status as a dual citizen, Opposition Leader Mark Golding yesterday announced that he would relinquish his British citizenship.

However, political commentator Dr Paul Ashley says Golding should go one step further and ensure that all members of the parliamentary Opposition and prospective candidates in the next general election also renounce any other nationality they hold.

“It is incumbent on Prime Minister (Andrew) Holness to ensure the same,” he noted.

LEADING VOICE

Ashley is of the view that the turning point in Golding’s decision was influenced by the position taken by former prime minister and president of the People’s National Party (PNP) PJ Patterson.

He said Patterson is regarded as the leading voice of the PNP and has carved out a reputation of being the most successful political leader at elections.

“PJ is the guiding source of the People’s National Party.”

Patterson, while participating in a discussion on the Jamaican Constitution at The University of the West Indies early last month, declared that qualification for sitting in Jamaica’s Parliament should be based on Jamaican nationality.

According to Ashley, “every known traditional PNP has said that it is only Jamaican citizens who should be in the Lower House and the Upper House”.

While there is no specific allegiance crafted in the Constitution for a prime minister and leader of the Opposition, Ashley noted that any member of the Lower House can be a prime minister.

“Therefore, the question is we must ensure that every member of the Lower House and the Upper House are 100 per cent in allegiance to Jamaica,” he said.

Ashley charged that those who make laws for Jamaica must be fully Jamaican.

He said persons who have foreign nationality can always serve in positions outside of the legislature,“but those who are entrusted with the sovereign power of the Constitution must be 100 per cent Jamaican”.

Addressing a meeting of the PNP’s National Executive Council yesterday, Golding said that initially, he had indicated that he was mindful of how the Jamaican people felt about parliamentary leaders holding dual citizenship.

“We have reached a point now where we have some data on the views of the public on this matter,” Golding said, adding that he did not want his status as a dual citizen to negatively impact the party’s chances of clinching victory in the upcoming general elections, which are constitutionally due by September 2025.

LISTENED TO THE VIEWS

In a statement issued by Golding, the PNP president said he had listened to the views within and outside of the party in order to make a decision regarding his British citizenship, which he had by descent.

“While not prohibited legally, I do not want my status to affect our party or any candidates who are running for a seat,” he said.

“I have to take all things into consideration and, therefore, I will renounce my UK citizenship,” he said.

Shortly after Golding’s announcement, Opposition MP Julian Robinson yesterday revealed to The Gleaner that he would also be renouncing his UK citizenship.

In a statement, Robinson noted that he was born in the UK when his father, Patrick Robinson, was pursuing a master’s degree in law.

“I came back to Jamaica as a baby before I was one year old and have lived here since then,” the opposition finance spokesman said.

“Apart from the years where I studied and worked abroad, I have been in Jamaica all my life. I have chosen Jamaica as the place I will live and make my contribution as I have been doing.”

Robinson stressed that he has always been transparent about his dual citizenship, pointing out that when the Electoral Office of Jamaica, in 2011, modified the nomination forms for general election candidates, asking for their nationalities, he declared dual Jamaican and UK nationalities.

“I have declared this on my nomination forms in 2011, 2016, and 2020 in an open and transparent manner. It has never been a secret nor have I been reticent about acknowledging where I was born, something which I have absolutely no control over,” Robinson said as he warned that the current debate risks becoming a distraction from “the very real issues affecting the Jamaican people”.

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