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Oneidge Walrond

Oneidge Walrond

November 20 ,2020

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-will continue to serve as MP

Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce Oneidge Walrond today said that she has done β€œall that is within her power” to renounce her American citizenship prior to being sworn in as a Member of Parliament (MP) and as a result she will continue to sit in the National Assembly.

β€œβ€¦I am confident that I have done everything that was in my power to act morally [and] that the attempt to demerge my character has not gone unnoticed by the public. I am convince that I have full legal right to sit in the National Assembly and that I have done nothing illegal and that I will continue to sit in the Assembly as a legal representative,” Walrond told reporters at the sidelines of an event held at the Marriott Hotel.

According to Walrond, the fact that she received her renunciation certificate two days after being sworn in cannot support that argument that she was illegally sworn in as an MP.

β€œMy position has been and always has been that the act of renunciation is one that is a unilateral act that when a citizen has done the legal standard, is when a citizen has done all that is within her power to renounce, which is what I did on the 18th ……The fact that I received my certificate two days after swearing in, in my opinion, cannot support the argument that I was there illegally,” Walrond added.

The main parliamentary opposition APNU+AFC has argued that Walrond was fully aware that she was still a citizen of the US when she took the oath of office as an MP on September 1st.

Walrond had publicly stated that she had renounced her United States (US) citizenship since August 27th before taking the oath of office as an MP on September 1st and had subsequently received the Certificate of Loss of Nationality.

Her certificate of renunciation, which was made public, however, showed that Walrond voluntarily performed the act of expatriation to relinquish her US citizenship on September 4thβ€”after she was already sworn as an MP and minister. Two days ago, APNU+AFC filed an action in the High Court against Walrond seeking a declaration that she was illegally sworn in as a MP.

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@cain posted:

I think the reason APNU/AFC is so adamant regarding this issue is because of jealousy. The woman is getting on the good side of the PPP and that is a big no no to them. I don't care for the PPP but that is no reason to be stupid on this issue, they should leave the dam woman alone. Will they take care of her if she is let go?

That goes for Tota, Mitwah, Django, and Tola. Leave the woman alone.

R
@Ramakant-P posted:

That goes for Tota, Mitwah, Django, and Tola. Leave the woman alone.

Leave her alone?  Wha me go do wid she?  As a lawyer , if she broke the law she should pay the price, whatever that may be in this case.  Why is she insisting she did nothing wrong when the facts clearly indicate otherwise.  It matters not to me if she is minister or a jackass but don't be wrong and strong. 

T
@Totaram posted:

Leave her alone?  Wha me go do wid she?  As a lawyer , if she broke the law she should pay the price, whatever that may be in this case.  Why is she insisting she did nothing wrong when the facts clearly indicate otherwise.  It matters not to me if she is minister or a jackass but don't be wrong and strong.

It is now water under the bridge.  You cannot deter her from speaking her mind.   

R

The issue is not whether the PPP should or shouldn't hire Walrond, Pasad or Singh.  The issue is that people who hold dual citizenship cannot be members of parliament.  Prior to the NCV there were many people holding dual citizenship and sitting in the house. Charandass Persaud was one of them.  In the legal battles over the NCV the courts ruled decisively that dual citizens cannot be MPs.  This was widely publicized and the politicians and lawyers certainly knew the law on the issue.  Walrond, a lawyer, knew all of this and yet she allowed herself to be sworn in as an MP while still a dual citizen.  So tell me, is she an innocent pawn in a political pissing contest or is she just plain "chupid" and trying to be wrong and strong? Let's see what the court says about this?

T
@lil boy posted:

She was not a dual citizen when she was sworn in, according to her. She said that the papers were already in long before. She knew the rules. This is all gripe from APNU/AFC, a party without an ounce of scruples.

Have you read the independent news articles on this matter, e.g., the one at the beginning of this thread? Here is what a section of that article claims :"Her certificate of renunciation, which was made public, however, showed that Walrond voluntarily performed the act of expatriation to relinquish her US citizenship on September 4thβ€”after she was already sworn as an MP and minister".  If this is correct, and there is nothing suggesting it is not, then she knowingly violated the rule.   

T

Can someone jog my memory? During all the hoopla after the NCV, wasn't there talk of some APNU/AFC having duel citizenship while they stayed on almost to the bitter end?

Even if this woman relinguished her citizenship after being sworn in, what the heck is so terribly wrong with that? A lot more wrong occured and is still occuring that's worse than what she is being accused of, nah true?

cain
@cain posted:

Can someone jog my memory? During all the hoopla after the NCV, wasn't there talk of some APNU/AFC having duel citizenship while they stayed on almost to the bitter end?

Even if this woman relinguished her citizenship after being sworn in, what the heck is so terribly wrong with that? A lot more wrong occured and is still occuring that's worse than what she is being accused of, nah true?

Agreed.

But it look like Totaram has issued a FATWA on the cute lady and he will not rest until he gets her head...and Irfaan too!

V
@Django posted:

Would you have accepted if that was done under another government ?

It was done under the Coalition. I never commented on it because all Guyanese have a right to live and work in the country of their birth. If migrants have a right to go back and vote and didn't relinquish their citizenship, then anyone can go back and work without having to relinquish theirs.(my opinion)

R

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