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By a correspondentCERTAIN misconceptions about the status of a Jamaican national, his rights and obligations, seem to have got about, it is necessary we think, for some clarification.The Constitution of Jamaica confers citizenship on a singular basis, that is to say one must enjoy Jamaican nationality exclusively. Certain exceptions are provided. Dual citizenship is allowed in respect of certain Commonwealth coontries (e.g. United Kingdom* Canada, Australia*citizenshipbut not Tptitdad and Tobago which does not allow dual citizenship at all). But citizenship in foreign (i.e. non-Comtnonwcalth) countries is forbidden while holding Jamaican nationality. And if such foreign citizenship is acquired since August 5f 1962* or application therefore made after that date or the Jamaican citizen voluntarily claimed and exercised any rights m that foreign country reserved exclusively for its citizens* the Governor General has the power to deprive that person of hi* Jamaican citizenship.The acquisition of a foreign nationality has to flow from a positive or formal act. Involuntary acquisitions of citizenship are hot penalized. Thu* it i* possible for a Jamaican woman married to an alien, or persons bomabroad in a foreign country ol Jamaican parents or bom m Jamaica of foreign parents, and naturalized Jamaicans to hold dual citizenship. But subject to these exceptions dual nationality is limited to Commonwealth countries.We were surprised therefore to note in a recent Press reporr that our Consul General in New York, Mr. Bruce, told a gathering of Jamaicans in that city that the Constitution provided that once they were Jamaican cirizcns they could never become stateless. As we have poinrcd out above this is hardly a correct intefpr«tation of the Constitution: And this particular interpretation could be unfortunate in a country such as the USA where Jamaicans might be tempted to try and cat their citizenship cake; and expect still to have it, that is* to renounce Jamaican citizenship to become USA citizens* and expect to remain Jamaican citizens.
Newspaper Details
Kingston Gleaner
Kingston, Kingston, JM
Sat, Aug 13, 1983
Page 6
Full Page
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Anonymous
USA 07 Apr 2021
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