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Dominica PM admits to dual citizenship
CMC
Thursday, December 03, 2009
ROSEAU, Dominica - Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit has admitted being in possession of a French passport but that did not prevent his nomination among over 50 candidates to contest the December 18 general elections.
President of the main opposition United Workers Party (UWP) Edison James told a public meeting in Morne Prosper, north of here on Tuesday night that Skerrit was a “citizen of a foreign land” and as a result was not eligible to be nominated to contest the general election.
“Under our constitution if a person become a national, a citizen of a foreign land and is under allegiance to that foreign country and that he became a citizen of that country by his own free will…it is not his parents who did it for him then that person cannot be eligible to be a candidate,” James, who served as prime minister from 1995-2000 told supporters.
But Skerrit, 37, who led his Dominica Labour Party (DLP) into victory in 2005 and is seeking a repeat later this month, has brushed aside James’ remarks, confirming that he is the holder of a French passport.
“I have been a citizen of France since June of 1972, so this foolishness that Edison James is seeking to perpetrate and propagate will not work.
“I shall get nominated today and I shall appear on the ballot paper so that the people…can continue to vote for me and for progress in an overwhelming manner.”
The Prime Minister said he did not acquire the French passport or citizenship while he was an adult when he moved from the rural village of Vielle Case to the French island of Guadeloupe with his parents.
CMC
Thursday, December 03, 2009
ROSEAU, Dominica - Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit has admitted being in possession of a French passport but that did not prevent his nomination among over 50 candidates to contest the December 18 general elections.
President of the main opposition United Workers Party (UWP) Edison James told a public meeting in Morne Prosper, north of here on Tuesday night that Skerrit was a “citizen of a foreign land” and as a result was not eligible to be nominated to contest the general election.
“Under our constitution if a person become a national, a citizen of a foreign land and is under allegiance to that foreign country and that he became a citizen of that country by his own free will…it is not his parents who did it for him then that person cannot be eligible to be a candidate,” James, who served as prime minister from 1995-2000 told supporters.
But Skerrit, 37, who led his Dominica Labour Party (DLP) into victory in 2005 and is seeking a repeat later this month, has brushed aside James’ remarks, confirming that he is the holder of a French passport.
“I have been a citizen of France since June of 1972, so this foolishness that Edison James is seeking to perpetrate and propagate will not work.
“I shall get nominated today and I shall appear on the ballot paper so that the people…can continue to vote for me and for progress in an overwhelming manner.”
The Prime Minister said he did not acquire the French passport or citizenship while he was an adult when he moved from the rural village of Vielle Case to the French island of Guadeloupe with his parents.