Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon has publicly released copies of his Certificate of Renunciation showing that he officially gave up his United States citizenship which he held for 11 years.
The Certificate shows that Harmon took the oath of renunciation on July 31, 2019, at the U.S Embassy here in Georgetown and it was later approved October 8th, 2019.
Harmon had told members of the media on Tuesday that he had submitted a copy of the certificate to the Clerk of the National Assembly Sherlock Isaacs but up to Wednesday morning, Isaacs had not physically received the document.
On Monday, Isaacs had written to Members of Parliament (MPs) asking them to submit proof that they have relinquished any foreign citizenship they previously held. Isaacs said he received the certificate from Minister of Governance and Parliamentary Affairs Gail Teixeira that her Canadian citizenship was officially renounced.
In the letter dispatched, the Clerk reminded MPs that Article 155 (1) of the constitution states: “no person shall be qualified for election as a member of the National Assembly who (a) is, by virtue of his own act, under any acknowledgement of allegiance, obedience or adherence to a foreign power or state.”
In 2019, during the life of the 11th Parliament, Guyana’s Court of Appeal had ruled conclusively on this matter in which it stated that a person who holds dual citizenship is not eligible to sit as an MP in the House.
Leader of the Liberty and Justice Party and newly elected Deputy Speaker Lenox Shuman also relinquished his foreign citizenship to contest the 2020 elections after he was initially barred by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) from heading the list for the Liberty and Justice Party which he formed.
He had since provided proof to GECOM of his relinquishment but will now be required to submit same to the Clerk of the National Assembly.
It’s bittersweet. Good riddance from the USA but I am sorry for Guyana.
That was around the time that the PNC thought they had the rig in the bag. OMG the partying. Lolo ‘n Mingo could not buy a drink or a meal……2 National heroes.