⁠MP Tells Golding to Explain Reluctance to Renounce British Citizenship

Attorney-at-law and member of parliament for Central Kingston, the Jamaica Labour Party’s, JLP, Donovan Williams, says People’s National Party, PNP, president Mark Golding should tell the Jamaican people why he’s reluctant to give up his British citizenship.

Mr. Williams’ questions come following Mr. Golding’s publication of a Jamaican passport, which bears his image.

Mr. Williams says there are still questions that need to be answered by Mr. Golding, whom he labels the British Opposition Leader.

Daina Davy reports.

Opposition Leader Mark Golding has come under fire from the governing JLP and users of social media over his continued membership in the House of Representatives as a dual citizen.

He recently shared a video on social media, showing what he says is proof that he is a born Jamaican.

His video comes amid doubts over whether he was indeed born on the island and ongoing debate over his declaration that he is a dual Jamaican/British citizen.

Mr. Golding is adamant that he’s on the right side of the law, as the Constitution does allow a British national to sit in Jamaica’s parliament.

But in a statement on Wednesday, the JLP’s Donovan Williams questions why Mr. Golding did not post his British passport.

According to Mr. Williams, Mr. Golding should also declare whether he has any local assets in Jamaica.

The Central Kingston MP says Golding should indicate whether he’s holding on to his British citizenship in order to reduce the amount of tax he has to pay in Jamaica.

Mr. Williams says it would be unfortunate if personal financial interests were preventing Mark Golding from fully committing to the people of Jamaica via his citizenship.

He says the PNP president is treading on dangerous ground if he believes he can remain a dual citizen and serve as Jamaica’s prime minister.