The Editor, Sir:

I am unflinching in my resolve that sensitive national posts should only be held by single-citizenship individuals. Whether that includes MPs, I grant, is debatable. However, it must certainly include the Prime Minister. (The US requires that its Presidents be born in the US).

At present the Constitution does not preclude foreign citizens from becoming MPs or even Prime Minister. It merely asks that one demonstrates total loyalty to Jamaica. I think that is fair by any reckoning. If anyone feels strongly enough to run for Office and committed enough to Jamaica, then renunciation should be simple.

Duty and privilege

The remittance argument has ticked off many Jamaicans living here. It is a duty and a privilege to help one's relatives, wherever they reside. It cannot be factored into eligibility for political office.

The two issues are not directly related. Some of us feel that others are trying to hold us financial hostages and it actually strengthens our determination to keep the law in question.

Undermining one's faith

I invite all interested individuals to read again the words of the US oath of allegiance. It actually requires that one renounces all ties to any other State and holds the possibility of bearing arms against all others.

In my mind that undermines my faith in any US citizen as my MP - Jamaican or otherwise. But then again, I am a Jamaican nationalist and despite our very serious national struggles, I am an equal human being to every other human being - wherever they live.

I am, etc..,

STANLEY REDWOOD

stanley_redwood@yahoo.com

Middle Quarters

St Elizabeth

Via Go-Jamaica