The Constitution of Guyana makes it clear that one cannot be a dual citizen and still be a Member of Parliament. Yet Government members who have dual citizenship status such as Foreign Affairs Minister, Carl Greenidge; Minister of State, Joseph Harmon; and Business Minister, Dominic Gaskin, will be making an appearance at the next sitting of the National Assembly.
Confirming same was Greenidge and Government’s Chief Whip, Amna Ally.
But attorney-at-law, Sanjeev Datadin, told the Guyana Standard moments ago that if and when that act is committed, it would represent utter disrespect for the National Assembly and total disregard for the Constitution by the said policy leaders.
Datadin said, “Our Constitution is clear; if you hold dual citizenship status, then you shouldn’t sit in the House. If our politicians don’t obey such clear laws then how could they expect citizens to do so? They are disrespecting the Constitution and the Parliament and are failing to show the leadership the nation requires.”
The lawyer reminded too that even the High Court has spoken on this matter. Datadin said, “In January, Chief Justice, Roxane George-Wiltshire, had ruled that anyone who holds dual citizenship, that is citizenship of Guyana and of a foreign power or state, as envisaged by Article 155 (1) (a) and therefore falls in this category of disqualified person pursuant to Article 156 (1) (d), should not and cannot be a member of the National Assembly. In light of this clarity which was brought by the courts, one would expect action from the legislature.”
Datadin added, “The only respectable thing for the legislature to do in light of the court’s ruling is to ensure that Parliamentarians who are dual citizens are not allowed to sit in the House.”
