Daryl Vaz on Tuesday declared that “nothing is private or secret”
Daryl Vaz, the Minister of Science, Energy, Telecommunications, and Transport, has defended his actions in disclosing information about Opposition Leader Mark Golding’s passport and citizenship. This has sparked concerns about breaches in data privacy. Vaz stated, “nothing is private or secret” in reference to the concerns. He further claimed, “no public figure, whether in Jamaica or the world, should ever think that anything they have can be hidden.”
Vaz has been in a standoff with the opposition People’s National Party (PNP) over Golding’s dual citizenship. The PNP alleges that Vaz publicly released information about Golding’s private interactions with the Passport, Immigration and Citizenship Agency (PICA).
Vaz has refused such allegations, stating the information he revealed came from within the PNP. He emphasized that his actions were driven by the best interest of Jamaica and its citizens.
Opposition Leader Mark Golding, who holds both British and Jamaican citizenships, applied for his Jamaican passport at 46, five years after serving as a senator. Vaz said that Golding only applied for the travel document after being appointed minister in 2012, and that he also applied for and received a United Kingdom visa in 2022 to lead a party delegation to London.
Despite the uproar, Vaz denied any breach of data protection, asserting that such concerns are simply a distraction from the main point of Golding’s dual citizenship. He argued that Golding must come clean to the country and provide all details in relation to his UK passport and Jamaican passport and citizenship. He also claimed that he has no direct authority over PICA and no way of demanding information from the agency. His course of action, he justified, was to expose what Golding should have revealed.
For individuals inquiring about the relevance of their questions, Mr. Vaz noted, please be aware that as a British National, the British Government can and will make special provisions for Mr. Golding that ordinary Jamaican citizens would not be entitled to, in the event of terrorism, civil unrest, or natural disasters.
Should a terrorist attack occur, many of us, along with our families, will rely on our government for defense and protection. As a British National, Mark Golding would receive assistance and potentially more, including evacuation, if the government’s efforts prove insufficient.
On May 20, Nekeisha Burchell of the People’s National Party (PNP) leveled accusations against Mr. Vaz for allegedly disclosing confidential information. The information pertained to Opposition Leader Mark Golding and was obtained from the Passport Citizenship and Immigration Agency (PICA).
During a broadcast on local radio, Mr. Vaz claimed that Mr. Golding had applied for and received his Jamaican passport at the age of 46, despite having already been a member of the House of Representatives.
In a subsequent social media post on X.com, previously known as Twitter, Mr. Vaz stated, “My source is from deep within the belly of the PNP. But like good journalists, good politicians never call the names of their trusted sources,”
In November 2019, The Jamaican Star revealed that Daryl Vaz had renounced his American citizenship so he could be a parliamentarian in Jamaica, is now unable to travel to the United States of America.
Vaz acquired US citizen by virtue of his mother, but gave it up in 2008 after the court ruled that he was ineligible to sit in parliament because of him being a dual citizen.
Vaz, who is minister without portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, at the time, revealed that his United States visa has been revoked.
In a statement, Vaz, the member of parliament for West Portland, said the US has written to him advising that subsequent to the issuance of the visa, it has received information that the minister “may be ineligible”.