Warmington questions call by Golding to allow dual citizens to run for office

St. Catherine South Western MP Everald Warmington

In a press conference on Tuesday, Opposition Leader Mark Golding (centre) said Jamaicans who also hold citizenship for non-Commonwealth countries should be allowed to seek political office.

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Everald Warmington, Member of Parliament for St. Catherine South Western

By Racquel Porter    

Member of Parliament for St. Catherine South Western, Everald Warmington, says Opposition Leader Mark Golding’s credibility must be questioned following his call for constitutional amendments that would allow Jamaicans with dual citizenship to run for office.

On Tuesday, Mr. Golding said Jamaicans who also hold citizenship for non-Commonwealth countries should be allowed to seek political office.

He said there are Jamaicans domiciled overseas, who may want to return to the island and contribute, who should not be excluded from being able to serve.

But Mr. Golding’s position appears to be a departure from that of the People’s National Party, which in 2007, as opposition, lobbied to have several JLP MPs who possessed dual citizenship removed from Parliament.

Mr. Warmington, Cabinet Minister Daryl Vaz, Michael Stern, Gregory Mair, and the late Shahine Robinson had their legitimacy in the Lower House challenged on the grounds that they were citizens of non-Commonwealth states.

The legal challenges resulted in court-ordered by-elections that cost taxpayers more than $100 million.

In a leaked voice note, Mr. Warmington said Mr. Golding’s position is questionable, adding that it is a “remarkable and hypocritical turnaround from the PNP’s past position” on the matter. 

“What the PNP president needs to do is to tell Jamaica whether he is a citizen of Britain. He should state this, that Jamaicans may evaluate where he is coming from and make a determination whether he is putting up roadblocks to Jamaica becoming a republic. Is he a citizen of Britain? Where does his loyalty lie?” Mr. Warmington questioned. 

The St. Catherine South Western MP said Mr. Golding should also explain why he only secured a Jamaican passport in 2011 while he was a senator. 

“Jamaicans should also be aware that under British law, it is a crime for any British citizen to serve in the army of another country or come to the defence of another country during conflict. So the PNP president, who wants to be prime minister and Minister of Defence in Jamaica, needs to tell us whether he is a British citizen,” Mr. Warmington demanded. 

Last October, Minister of Legal and Constitutional Affairs Marlene Malahoo Forte told Parliament that the Constitutional Reform Committee contemplated whether persons with dual citizenship should be eligible to sit as MPs.

She said it was determined that a test of allegiance would be necessary.

The current Constitution does not allow dual citizens of non-Commonwealth countries to hold elected office in Jamaica.

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