What do you think about dual citizenship?

Question

Quite frankly in the ruling against Daryl Vaz I think this will infringe the Jamaican diaspora from returning home, settle and to be involve in politics. Jamaica accepts dual citizenship so I dont see the reason against Vaz ruling. If he had renounce is Jamaican citizenship that is understandable but he didn't.

What this mean to me now is that Jamaicans with dual citizenship will have to choose between politics or renouncing their foreign citizenship.

Vaz mentioned in the Jamaica observer that they should also ban people who have green card from being MP's. I think that its stupid because green cards dont entitle you to nothing. It only allow you to work and live in the US permanently. One felony and they kick you out.

What are your thoughts.

Answer 1

I think the entire issue is c**p. Several politicians on both sides of the house have had dual citizenship. The only reason why they are bringing it up now is because some PNP spoiled sports decided to use it as a campaign issue. They STILL lost in their bid to get re-elected. The poles said that people still preferred to vote for Daryl vaz, but clearly the PNP candidates didn't care what the people wanted.

They really HAVE done Jamaicans a disservice.

Imagine that the Director of Elections who was forced to resign because of Dual Citizenship, elevated Jamaica away from a time when,

1. Corrupted (stuffed) ballot boxes were the norm

2. Dead people voted multiple times.

3. One person could walk into a poling station and vote 15 times (witnessed this myself).

Danville Walker lead a reform that all but eliminated this corruption, so that international election watchdogs (who used to say our elections were all but rigged) now say that fairness is the norm. The only criticism that still exists is that voters can be intimidated in some polling stations.

Now HOW is the public served by ensuring that a hardworking man like Danville Walker cannot be director of elections, merely because he holds dual citizenship?

In a GLOBAL environment where you WANT all the Jamaicans with international experience and exposure to be ACTIVE in the nations growth, this new development is RUBBISH.

Its a very expensive and unnecessary distraction.

To those who think it has always been illegal THINK AGAIN. It has been 'gray area' at best.

The law refers to "anyone who has sworn allegiance to a foreign government" as being inelligable. The PNP have basically twisted this wording to make the application suit them. The original wording wasn't drafted with the intent to exclude people who have dual citizenship by some element of fate, birth or some technicality. It is also a fact that applying for a US passport doesnt require such an oath. There was no intent to exclude people with just 'basic dual citizenship'. Just people who took oaths for higher office or jobs (including military or government) in foreign countries. They didnt want a person to be able make an oath to serve the CIA, TSA, MI-6 or the US senate, and then come to Jamaica and make a conflicting oath here.

EDIT:

The JLP did not come up with this.  PNP candidates were trying to get JLP candidates eliminated from the ballots because those particular JLP candidates had dual citizenship.

The advantage of US citizenship, includes

1) you cant be deported as easily from the USA. (note that people have been deported for traffic tickets).

2) You and your kids have greater social benefits, especially in the way of education and some financial services.

Answer 2

I think Caribbean governments are doing the public at large a HUGE disservice to disqualify all people that hold citizenship for/in another country from being able to return to the region and enter/partake in politics....

Most Caribbean people that move overseas are encouraged by these same governments to acquire citizenship so that they can be protected in the country that they choose to move to... It is @$$ backwards to prohibit everyone that has acquired skills overseas to no longer contribute back home...

Besides I would dare to say, the majority of constitutions in the Caribbean already have provisions for dealing with someone that may be acting under the influence of a foreign nation if it is reasonable to assume they are doing so while holding office...

-- Charge them with Treason --

To my brethern Joe that commented below.  What about this.

I have three scenarios to run past you...

1) Suppose you have a person of Caribbean decent they are a teenager (born in the Caribbean).  They have parents (from the same country) and parents choose for the whole family to move overseas.  The child in the family never took out the citizenship in that foreign country on their own volition should that child ever be allowed to run for politics back in the Caribbean?

2) Scenario 2. Suppose you have a married couple.  They move to the United States and have a child.  They regularly travel to and from the Caribbean and as such the child they have is very in-tune with the Caribbean culture/lifestyle etc. Anyway, that child born overseas decides after completing a masters degeree that they want to enter Caribbean politics... Should that once- child now grown adult born overseas be allowed to move back to the Caribbean and enter the political arena?

2) Scenario 3.  Should a CARICOM national that was born in one CARICOM nation be able to move to another CARICOM nation and then be allowed to enter politics?

Answer 3

It's wrong. Someone should hit him.

Answer 4

So possessing dual citizenship where does ones priority lies,

will it  be patriotism or the more lucrative opportunity.

Was there an awareness of the existence of this law, and, chartering a political career, shouldn't one be prepared for the eventuality that this law may be applicably. or was there a lack of confidence in the ability to win. or the sickening stigmatized belief that politician is above the law been on display again?

However, readily relinquishing the aquired citizenship, adds volume to ones patriotism, but having to be forced to give it up does emphasis the different colours of both feet.

one green gold and black and the other red white and blue.

Are they flags or bobby socks?

Answer 5

I honestly think that citizens no matter how much they become adapted to there adopted country,cant have there cake and eat it,if your going to be playing a role in some of the our native countries most sensitive and important jobs,people should be patriotic,and not allow future conflicts of interest to persist or to developed.

In other words if a ship is sinking be the captain rather than head for the first life boat.



Imagine if a serious riot or some other state affair goes over board with serious implications,person/s who have one foot in and one out, are the first to flee [ potential communism stance 1970s Jamaica;for example ],can you imagine those with dual citizenship at the highest level,i would dare think of it,its human nature to pick the better choice if there is a better way,whether nagative or positive.

I am not against people wanting to serve,however if so much desire rest in a dream to come back and contribute to your countries development a mere alligiance to the United states of America or so be it any other country should not be a problem on your part to sever,a true man/woman of his/her country will not break part because of stringent requirments,let us see who the true citizens of Jamaica is.

We also know that many of what we are seeing is there because of a mere political flip flop and politicains fideling with one up manship point scoring games to win point rather than to safe gard the countries interest.

disgusting is it?Hmm.......

When will we learn that such side show only sink us to a new low among our internation neighbours as to how we are percieve in there country/countries.

John F Kennedy a pass US presedent [ if i remembered correctly] said "Ask not what your country can do for you but what can you do for your country" to that effect.

So the eal question here is at what price should we be entering into such a new arena of untested waters, so can the real Jamaicans please stand up.

You are missing the point Vibes-so, my point is being naturalized or having a citizenship from another country via what ever means should'nt be a factor in your choice for wanting/having a need to serve in that countries top job or any position there of,if stated from the start, that your required not to have alligiance to a foreign power via any connections.

So basically my impresion of your comment while over looking the case made by you and others here, its ok to break the the law of the land to siut the needs of those amongst us who want to have there own  way,hmm.

In what ever case the contitution must stand and respect for the law must be observe,and also it must not be a political foot ball for those who wish to so with it.

and thats my opinion.

Answer 6

Trust a JLP to come up with nonsense like that.

I would never have become a US citizen if I was not able to retain my Jamaican citizenship..the only difference becoming a US citizen is I can vote( I enjoy that!).

He seems to be trying to punish Jamaicans who have ties with America....That is limiting alot of Jamaicans.  Jamaican people are one of our largest exports.

Ridiculous!

Very interesting question for me to discuss with other Jamaicans.

Answer 7

i think it is cool.  It sounds like freedom to me