VAZ

The Editor, Sir:

I believe that this issue regarding Mr Vaz not being qualified to sit in Parliament is 'much ado about nothing'. I do believe that the verdict in this case is correct because of the laws of the Constitution but let us analyse the Constitution.

The Jamaican Constitution states that in order to be a member of parliament you must either be a Jamaican citizen or a Common-wealth citizen who has resided in Jamaica for at least 12 months prior to registering for the election. The problem in Mr Vaz's case is that his second citizenship is with the United States of America. The United States is not a member of the Commonwealth.

A person who was born in Mozambique but is now a Jamaican resident is eligible to become a Jamaican member of parliament, yet he is not a Jamaican citizen nor has he pledged any allegiance to Jamaica. Since Mozambique is a Commonwealth member, all its citizens, providing that they reside in Jamaica for 12 months, are eligible to become members of parliament in Jamaica.

Fewer rights

Mozambique has its own head of state and that individual is not the Queen of England. So, according to our constitution, a Jamaican citizen who also shares American citizenship has fewer rights in Jamaica than a Mozambique citizen. This is untenable; nobody would argue that Jamaicans living in the USA are less interested in the well-being of Jamaica than people living in Mozambique.

It is time for the Constitution to reflect the views of Jamaicans. Rev Dick might want to analyse all the facts before he decides to voice his opinions next time.

I am, etc.,

Lt. ANDRE McDONALD

andre33319us@yahoo.com

Crestview, FL

Via Go-Jamaica