Matthew Samuda to renounce British citizenship
Published:Thursday | May 30, 2024 | 1:35 PM
Minister without portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Matthew Samuda, has disclosed that he is a British citizen, in a statement in which he said he was taking steps to renounce his citizenship of the United Kingdom (UK).
"I am advanced in the process of renouncing my British citizenship which I acquired at birth," the government senator said in the statement released on Thursday afternoon.
Samuda said he took the decision to renounce his British citizenship after carefully listening 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," he stated.
The issue of dual citizenship has been hotly debated since it came to public attention that Opposition Leader Mark Golding is a citizen of both Jamaica and the UK.
Golding has faced calls to renounce his British citizenship as a demonstration of his “firm commitment” to Jamaica and to avoid any conflict of interest if he were to become prime minister.
However, he argues that there is no legal basis for him to renounce his status in the United Kingdom at this time as the Jamaican Constitution allows for citizens of Commonwealth countries to sit in the parliament.
Prime Minister Andrew Holness has stated his opinion that no person who wishes to be the ultimate leader of Jamaica should have citizenship of any other country.
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