‘You can’t serve two masters’
Jamaicans in US welcome Golding’s decision to renounce UK citizenship
NEW YORK, USA — The decision by Opposition Leader Mark Golding to renounce his British citizenship has found widespread favour among many Jamaicans here, including Sadie Campbell who heads the People’s National Party-affiliate Jamaica Progressive League.
“It is a wise and welcome move,” she told the Jamaica Observer, noting that “you can’t serve two masters”. She said she was glad that Golding took the decision to renounce as she believes those aspiring to leadership should not be saddled with the citizenship of another country, as “it can’t be half and half”.
Campbell was quick to point out, however, the unique situation under which Golding acquired his British citizenship — being born in Jamaica, though his father was born in the UK, and the fact that the constitution provides for that situation.
President of Caribbean Cricket Club of Los Angeles and a former president of National Association of Jamaican and Supportive Organizations (NAJASO) Roy Davidson also welcomed Golding’s move, describing it as “excellent”, even while acknowledging “the legality of his position based on the constitution”.
Contacted for comment on the issue, former Ambassador to the United Nations Curtis Ward said: “We should recognise that this issue was raised by the prime minister as a distraction from the real issues which demand our full attention in Jamaica.
”Opposition Leader Mark Golding, though not legally required, made the right decision to renounce his UK citizenship. By doing so he removes the political distraction and Jamaica can now get back to discussing the issues that really matter to most Jamaicans,” declared Ward.
Those issues, he said, include crime, safety and security; the condition of the health-care system; the failing education system; high prices for basic food and essential services; and lack of housing for low-income Jamaicans.
On June 30, 2024 Golding told a meeting of his party’s National Executive Council (NEC) that he would renounce his UK citizenship, at the height of a political furore after it came to light that he had dual citizenship.
There were widespread calls, especially from the Government and led by Transport Minister Daryl Vaz, for Golding to renounce his UK citizenship.
“Though it is not prohibited legally, I do not want my status to affect our party or any candidate who is running for a seat,” Golding told the NEC meeting. “We have reached a point now where we have some data on the views of the public on this matter,” he told party supporters.
Golding added that he did not want his status as a dual citizen “to negatively impact the party’s chances of clinching victory in the upcoming general elections”.
Those elections are constitutionally due next year but can be called by Prime Minister Andrew Holness before the due date.
Former educator Milton G Hanchard also welcomed Golding’s decision, describing it as “a sound and masterful stroke that would get the noise and distraction out of the way”.
However Patrick Callum, president of the New York Chapter of G2K, the young affiliate arm of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), said Golding “had no choice but to capitulate, based on social sentiments”.
“The idea that a prime minister or an opposition leader should still be beholden to the monarchy is not acceptable at this time. The British monarch is not popular in Jamaica at this time, which is another reason Mr Golding was forced into the decision he took,” Callum argued.
Soon after Golding’s announcement, Opposition spokesman on finance Julian Robinson indicated that he, too, would be giving up his British citizenship. A similar position was also taken several weeks before by the JLP’s Matthew Samuda, Minister without portfolio in the ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation.