West Portland Member of Parliament Daryl Vaz testified Wednesday
that he did not think his United
States citizenship would be a problem following
the September general election.
Continuing his testimony Wednesday before the Election Petition Court, Mr. Vaz said he did not renounce his US citizenship as he did not think that it was a relevant issue during the run-up to the elections.
Under cross examination from attorneys for defeated Peoples National Party (PNP) candidate Abe Dabdoub, Mr. Vaz maintained that he is a US citizen and enjoys the protection of the United States when he travels abroad on his US passport.
Mr. Vaz, who is a Junior Minister in the Jamaica Labour Party-led administration, also told the court that he has an obligation to the United States for its protection as one of its citizens.
When pressed on whether he ever gave an oath of allegiance to the United States, Mr. Vaz said he cannot recall giving an oath of allegiance to the US.
He said he has never given an oral oath of allegiance and cannot remember signing any document embracing the US oath.
Mr. Vaz maintained that he received his US citizenship through his mother who is an American.
During the cross examination, the West Portland MP told the court that his loyalty is with Jamaica but added that he would only be prepared to give up his US citizenship if Jamaica and the US were preparing to go to war.
The hearing continues Thursday.
In the petition, Mr. Dabdoub is seeking to unseat Mr. Vaz claiming that he is a US citizen and should therefore be disqualified from sitting in the Jamaican parliament as MP.
Mr. Dabdoub argues that Mr. Vaz' dual citizenship status as MP is a breach of the constitution.
Continuing his testimony Wednesday before the Election Petition Court, Mr. Vaz said he did not renounce his US citizenship as he did not think that it was a relevant issue during the run-up to the elections.
Under cross examination from attorneys for defeated Peoples National Party (PNP) candidate Abe Dabdoub, Mr. Vaz maintained that he is a US citizen and enjoys the protection of the United States when he travels abroad on his US passport.
Mr. Vaz, who is a Junior Minister in the Jamaica Labour Party-led administration, also told the court that he has an obligation to the United States for its protection as one of its citizens.
When pressed on whether he ever gave an oath of allegiance to the United States, Mr. Vaz said he cannot recall giving an oath of allegiance to the US.
He said he has never given an oral oath of allegiance and cannot remember signing any document embracing the US oath.
Mr. Vaz maintained that he received his US citizenship through his mother who is an American.
During the cross examination, the West Portland MP told the court that his loyalty is with Jamaica but added that he would only be prepared to give up his US citizenship if Jamaica and the US were preparing to go to war.
The hearing continues Thursday.
In the petition, Mr. Dabdoub is seeking to unseat Mr. Vaz claiming that he is a US citizen and should therefore be disqualified from sitting in the Jamaican parliament as MP.
Mr. Dabdoub argues that Mr. Vaz' dual citizenship status as MP is a breach of the constitution.
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