Contention over non-Jamaican running for political office

October 12/2018

As contention brew over newly nominated Dr Shane Alexis to represent the Opposition Party in St Mary South Eastern division, one must ask the question, is this a new occurrence? And should it be legal? Should there be laws against non-Jamaicans be able to run for Office in Jamaica?

The main justification given for Dr Shane Alexis to represent the Peoples National Party is that he is a Commonwealth Citizen. So does this mean a Jamaican can go to a Commonwealth Country and just run for Office claiming Commonwealth Citizenship? To be specific, can a Jamaican Citizen go to Canada and run for political Office?

The Election Canada and the Ministry of Municipal Affairs websites outlined who can become a candidate or run for Local Office Canada: The basic requirements for becoming a candidate are the following: · http://www.elections.ca/content.aspx?section=pol&dir=can/bck&document=index&lang=e

• You must be a Canadian Citizen.
• You must be at least 18 years old on election day.
• You must file a Nomination Paper (EC 20010) with the returning officer for the electoral district (riding) where you intend to run, along with all other documents required by the nomination process.

http://www.mah.gov.on.ca/Page10475.aspx :

On the day you file your nomination, you must be a Canadian citizen aged 18 or older, and qualify as a resident or non-resident elector. (For more information about eligibility to vote.

Please see: Eligibility to Vote in the 2014 Voters’ Guide).

The eligibility above would clearly disqualified a Jamaican citizen to run for Office in Canada. So why is the justification of Dr Shane Alexis legibility legal in Jamaica? In 2017 should there be laws against this?

The Member of Parliament for Portland Western, Daryl Vaz, at a press conference said the issue was not about legality but morality. He explained, “I find it hypocritical, I find it immoral that after the People’s National Party made it a point of duty to carry five of us in our last term in office to court on a dual citizenship case that they would be so bold and brazen to confirm a candidate to run on their ticket who is neither the holder of a Jamaican passport or a Jamaican citizen”. The Peoples National Party accepted Dr. Shane Alexis was born in Canada but they explained he came to Jamaica as a young child and attended Saints Peter and Paul Preparatory School and Campion College in Jamaica. He completed his undergraduate education in Jamaica before receiving a scholarship to study medicine in Cuba.  They went on further to say, “[t]he Jamaican Constitution is clear that individuals born in Commonwealth countries are eligible to sit in the Houses of Parliament”. The Peoples National Party further added, that after completing his medical training, Dr. Shane Alexis returned to Jamaica and worked in several public medical institutions, including doing training and working at the Kingston Public Hospital, Bustamante Hospital for Children and the Annotto Bay Hospital.    The Opposition also pointed out that Alexis has served as president of the Jamaica Medical Doctors’ Association, and was appointed to the board of the National Health Fund (NHF) by the present JLP administration. The Peoples National Party noted in it’s release that there are members of the Jamaica Labour Party seated in the Houses of Parliament, who also hold Commonwealth citizenship. They explained that the doctor is now applying for his Jamaican Citizenship.

Let’s go back to the 1980s. One of Jamaica’s most honoured politician Edward Phillip George Seaga. He was the fifth Prime Minister of Jamaica, from 1980 to 1989, and the leader of the Jamaica Labour Party from 1974 to 2005. He served as leader of the opposition from 1974 to 1980, and again from 1989 until January 2005. Edward Seaga was born 28 May 1930 Boston, Massachusetts.

It is obvious there are a long list of Jamaican politicians over the history of Jamaican politics who are either foreign nationals or have dual citizenships from other countries. One could argue the laws must now be changed. Even though Jamaica is a Commonwealth Country, our Commonwealth privileges are very limited. Additionally, despite the fact Jamaica is a part of the Commonwealth, it is a sovereign Country and certain privileges must be limited to Jamaican citizens only.