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West Portland MP admits US citizenship
Tuesday, 08 January 2008
West Portland Member of Parliament Daryl Vaz Tuesday admitted that he is a US citizen and holds US and Jamaican passports.
Mr. Vaz made the disclosure Tuesday while giving testimony at the election petition hearing in which defeated Peoples National Party candidate Abe Dabdoub is trying to unseat him.
Mr. Vaz, who was called Tuesday for the first time, told the hearing that he has been in possession of a US passport since 1978.
He testified that he has had four US passports between 1978 and this year.
The last US passport was issued to him in 2004.
The West Portland MP, who has come under fire from Mr. Dabdoub, also admitted that he has been travelling as a US citizen since being appointed State Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister in September.
Under cross examination from Mr. Dabdoub's attorneys, Mr. Vaz admitted that in October last year he travelled to Canada, St. Maarten, Antigua and Turks and Cacois as a US citizen.
During the cross examination, the attorneys also showed Mr. Vaz a US immigration card which he signed.
The card stated that he is not permitted to work in Jamaica and should leave the country by Wednesday January 9.
Mr. Vaz admitted that he signed the immigration card, but stated that he had no plans to leave the island Wednesday.
Mr. Dabdoub who was defeated by Mr. Vaz in the September election wants the court to remove Mr. Vaz as MP.
He claimed that Mr. Vaz holds dual citizenship which is a breach of the constitution and bars him from remaining as MP.
The hearing continues Wednesday.
Tuesday, 08 January 2008
West Portland Member of Parliament Daryl Vaz Tuesday admitted that he is a US citizen and holds US and Jamaican passports.
Mr. Vaz made the disclosure Tuesday while giving testimony at the election petition hearing in which defeated Peoples National Party candidate Abe Dabdoub is trying to unseat him.
Mr. Vaz, who was called Tuesday for the first time, told the hearing that he has been in possession of a US passport since 1978.
He testified that he has had four US passports between 1978 and this year.
The last US passport was issued to him in 2004.
The West Portland MP, who has come under fire from Mr. Dabdoub, also admitted that he has been travelling as a US citizen since being appointed State Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister in September.
Under cross examination from Mr. Dabdoub's attorneys, Mr. Vaz admitted that in October last year he travelled to Canada, St. Maarten, Antigua and Turks and Cacois as a US citizen.
During the cross examination, the attorneys also showed Mr. Vaz a US immigration card which he signed.
The card stated that he is not permitted to work in Jamaica and should leave the country by Wednesday January 9.
Mr. Vaz admitted that he signed the immigration card, but stated that he had no plans to leave the island Wednesday.
Mr. Dabdoub who was defeated by Mr. Vaz in the September election wants the court to remove Mr. Vaz as MP.
He claimed that Mr. Vaz holds dual citizenship which is a breach of the constitution and bars him from remaining as MP.
The hearing continues Wednesday.
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