MPs urged by Clerk to submit proof of allegiance only to Guyana

Clerk of the National Assembly, Sherlock Isaacs has requested that the members of the National Assembly who held dual citizenship while sitting in the 11th Parliament prove that their only allegiance lies with Guyana.

In a letter sent to members and seen by Stabroek News, Isaacs reminds that Article 115(1) of the Constitution states that 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.

He notes that in 2019 the Guyana Court of Appeal conclusively ruled that a person is not eligible to be elected if they hold dual citizenship before asking that those members who held allegiance or adherence to a foreign power or state during the 11th parliament and have relinquished same to submit proof of relinquishment.

The request is likely to affect Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Government, Gail Teixeira and “presumptive Opposition Leader”, Joseph Harmon who both held dual citizenship in 2019. They along with four other members, Dominic Gaskin, Carl Greenidge, Rupert Roopnaraine and Odinga Lumumba resigned from parliament after the January, 2019 ruling.

Teixeira who previously held Canadian citizenship announced that she had renounced in October 2019 and submitted her certification of renunciation to the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) on nomination day.

Harmon also announced in November that he had renounced the American citizenship he formerly held.

The letter goes on to advise all Members to ensure that they are in conformity with the Article but there is no request that they prove this compliance.

At least one other member, Lenox Shuman of the Liberty and Justice Party has been publicly identified as a dual citizen.

Shuman had announced in February that he had renounced his Canadian citizenship but resisted efforts by GECOM to have him present proof.

In fact the Commission had removed his name from his party’s list of Candidates when asking for him to show that he was eligible to hold office on Nomination Day, January 10.

In response Shuman threatened legal action and his lawyer engaged in a lengthy correspondence with the Commission.

A letter released by Shuman on February 5 showed that GECOM Chair Justice Claudette Singh had written to the lawyer K A Juman-Yassin SC referencing previous correspondence and stating that “the Commission after considerable deliberations decided that Mr Shuman’s name would remain on his party’s list”.

A certificate of renunciation was not included in any of the correspondence.

Leader of the Liberty and Justice Party (LJP), Lenox Shuman on Tuesday night told News-Talk Radio Guyana 103.1 FM/ Demerara Waves Online News that he was not asked by the Clerk of the National Assembly, Sherlock Isaacs to submit evidence that he relinquished his Canadian citizenship. “The Clerk has not made any request of me…The fact that he has not written to me already says that there is no issue,” he said. Mr. Shuman reasoned that the fact that the Clerk  has not written to him means that the question that he sought to ask anyone would have already been answered. Mr. Shuman said he has already submitted his documents to the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).

Shuman , need to present proof of renouncing Canadian Citizenship ,there are conflicting statements in the articles.

Stabroek News reports , Certificate of renunciation was not included in any of the correspondence to GECOM.

Good start that Harmon and Teixeira. Shuman needs to do the same and stop pulling one of those Ramjattan “technicality” stunt. Supposedly he provided evidence to GECOM which got his name back on the ballot so it shouldn’t be difficult now. If he can’t then we make Timothy Jonas the Deputy Speaker.

@Former Member posted:

Good start that Harmon and Teixeira. Shuman needs to do the same and stop pulling one of those Ramjattan “technicality” stunt.

Supposedly he provided evidence to GECOM which got his name back on the ballot so it shouldn’t be difficult now.

If he can’t then we make Timothy Jonas the Deputy Speaker.

Stabroek News reported differently. 

Jonas is British Citizen.

https://www.stabroeknews.com/2...t-divisive-politics/

"Supposedly he provided evidence to GECOM which got his name back on the ballot so it shouldn’t be difficult now."

@Django posted:

Stabroek News reported differently. 

Jonas is British Citizen.

https://www.stabroeknews.com/2...t-divisive-politics/

That’s ok about Jonas. We will find someone else from the opposition who is not from the APNU or AFC. Ramkarran is available.

The matter of citizenship for Lenox Shuman was resolved by the Election Commission when he had to submit such proof.

It is a matter for him to resubmit the same as needed by the Clerk of the National Assembly.

Guyana Election Commission - GECOM - and Guyana National Assembly are separate entities.

In the United States of America, the fathers of that newly formed country insisted that all native ppl must apply to be citizens of the USA. Blasted fools tek the ppl country and strip dem of ownership.

The same nonsense about Shuman. The man will always be a Guianese, it doan matter whatever else he assumed to be. And everybody come from a different place.

Heard from my sources that Harmon didn’t submit any proof that he relinquished his US citizenship. At work now so will confirm when I get home.

@Former Member posted:

Heard from my sources that Harmon didn’t submit any proof that he relinquished his US citizenship. At work now so will confirm when I get home.

You and your source are badly informed or spreading falsehoods.  The document showing that Mr. Harmon has given up his US citizenship has been distributed for all to see.  We have not seen Gail's and Shuman's.