Cabinet Minister, Senator Matthew Samuda, has confirmed that he is a British citizen.
Samuda, in a statement on Thursday, said he has started the process of renouncing his British citizenship since public debate erupted recently over the dual citizenship of Opposition Leader Mark Golding.
“I am advanced in the process of renouncing my British citizenship, which I acquired at birth,” Samuda indicated.
The governing Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) and many of its supporters, including Transport Minister Daryl Vaz, have hammered Golding over his status as a British citizen holding the office of Opposition Leader in Jamaica, and have called on him to renounce the citizenship.
In weighing into the issue last week, Prime Minister Andrew Holness posited that any individual seeking to lead the country as prime minister, or anyone serving as Opposition leader, should not hold dual citizenship.
However, Holness said he was not opposed to members of the diaspora serving as parliamentarians as long as they swear allegiance to Jamaica.
Golding has maintained that he is compliant with the constitution and the laws of Jamaica relative to his dual Commonwealth citizenship.
The Jamaican Constitution allows persons who hold Commonwealth citizenship to serve in the Parliament.
Samuda, in his statement, called on Golding to follow his (Samuda’s) move to begin the process of renouncing his British citizenship.
Opposition Leader Mark Golding
“I’d strongly advise the Opposition Leader to take a similar course of action,” said the senator who is the Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation with responsibility for water, climate change and environment.
Below is the full statement from Samuda:
“I am advanced in the process of renouncing my British citizenship, which I acquired at birth.
“I voluntarily took the decision to retain Jamaican citizenship only and renounce British citizenship after having carefully listened to recent public discourse concerning the issue of dual citizenship.
“I had begun the process of renunciation prior to today by completing relevant forms. In response to public enquiries, I wish to make my decision to renounce clear.
“I’d strongly advise the Opposition Leader to take a similar course of action.”
