Golding, Robinson say they’re no longer dual citizens
Samuda says he has completed his role in renunciation process
Published:Tuesday | September 10, 2024 | 12:09 AMSashana Small/Staff Reporter
People’s National Party (PNP) President Mark Golding and Opposition Spokesman on Finance Julian Robinson are officially no longer dual citizens, having completed the renunciation of their British citizenship.
In the meantime, former Government Senator Matthew Samuda, who is planning to be nominated tomorrow to run in this month’s by-election for the North East St Ann constituency, said he has submitted all documents required to renounce his British citizenship and is awaiting certification.
Faced with weeks of criticisms after it was revealed in May that he possessed British citizenship, Golding had initially insisted that there were no legal grounds that required him to relinquish his status.
Section 39 (a) of the Constitution outlines that “ … any person who at the date of his appointment or nomination for election, can serve in Parliament as long as he or she is a Commonwealth citizen of the age of 21 years and upwards”.
The (b) clause of that section further states that an individual who “has been ordinarily resident in Jamaica for the immediate preceding 12 months, shall be qualified to be appointed as a senator or elected as a member of the House of Representatives and no other person shall be so qualified”.
However, as the denunciation from the ruling Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) and civil society increased, with them questioning the Opposition leader’s commitment to Jamaica while holding dual citizenship, Golding relented.
In July, he announced that he would be renouncing his British citizenship, which he held by descent, after listening to the views within and outside his party.
“I have received a letter and the official Declaration of Renunciation – dated the 5th August 2024– from the United Kingdom (UK) Home Office, confirming that the renunciation is complete,” Golding told The Gleaner on Friday.
Robinson, who was born in the UK, and who had followed Golding’s lead in renouncing his British citizenship, also shared that his process has been completed.
“I have completed the process and am in receipt of a certificate confirming that,” he aid.
Samuda was the first to announce his intention to forswear his UK citizenship, stating in late May that he was “advanced in the process of renouncing my British citizenship which I acquired at birth”.
On Friday, he told The Gleaner that his role in the process is complete.
“I have submitted all documents required and await final certification. My role in the process ended on June 1. Please also note, as a consequence, I do not hold a British passport,” he said.
Meanwhile, Robinson blasted the “hypocrisy” of the JLP who he said brought the issue of dual citizenship to the forefront “to score political points”. He claimed further that senior members of the JLP were in similar positions and have not renounced.
He further reiterated calls for the issue to be settled through the constitutional reform process.
“Public consultation should be done to determine a final position on this matter. I am personally not in favour of hounding out persons who have done nothing wrong and complied with the Constitution. But, for the JLP, it can’t be that they are insisting some persons who are dual Commonwealth citizens should renounce, while others in their own party are not held to the same standard,” he said.