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Mark Golding, speaking on TVJ's Smile Jamaica on Tuesday morning
By Kimone Witter
Opposition Leader Mark Golding says he would be willing to renounce his British citizenship if the constitutional reform process determines that holders of the office of Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition should only have Jamaican citizenship.
Mr. Golding is maintaining that until then, it is unreasonable to request that he relinquish his status which was acquired by descent.
Speaking Tuesday on TVJ's Smile Jamaica, the Opposition Leader reiterated that he is compliant with the Jamaican Constitution.
"In terms of the dual citizenship rule, the Constitution allows, as I've said, Commonwealth citizens to be in the Parliament. And I've always regarded it as important to comply with the Constitution and the laws of Jamaica. So we're going through a process of reform now. If this matter is debated, and the Jamaican people feel strongly that the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition, as two individuals, should not have dual citizenship, I would take the necessary steps to relinquish that status," he declared.
He said the firestorm which has arisen around dual citizenship in the last few days is being used as a distraction by the Jamaica Labour Party.
Going further, Mr. Golding said he does not plan to renew his UK passport after it expires this year.
But he was questioned about not relinquishing his British citizenship now.
"I think that it's unreasonable to expect people to do things that are contrary to their legal rights. Now, this is something I'm going to pray on, and I'm going to continue to reflect on. But from my standpoint, I feel it's an imposition by him (Prime Minister Holness) to be demanding that I do something which the Constitution doesn't require, and which there's been no public debate about," he insisted.
On Monday, Prime Minister Andrew Holness said Mr. Golding's position as Opposition Leader was untenable, in light of his British citizenship.
Mr. Holness, who was speaking with the media, argued that, if Mr. Golding is to serve as the country's highest leader or even the Opposition Leader, he must pledge sole loyalty to Jamaica.
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