TODAY IS Independence Day. However, this Independence is undermined when legislators do not have sole allegiance to Jamaica but also have sworn allegiance to a foreign state. This point was lost on letter writer Abka Fitz-Henley who in defending his cousin, Sharon Hay Webster, PNP MP, stated, 'Many of the parliamentarians acquired this citizenship not by choice but by circumstances' (July 31). If one has citizenship of another country by birth then one is not disqualified from the Jamaican Parliament. The issue is not foreign citizenship but rather foreign allegiance, that is, deliberate steps to demonstrate loyalty and commitment to a foreign power.

It is not surprising that the writer equates dual citizenship with foreign allegiance because of media and political misinformation. Dual citizenship is not synonymous with foreign allegiance. According to our Constitution if someone has dual citizenship and the non-Jamaican citizenship was gained without pledging foreign allegiance then that person is not disqualified. In addition, the constitution is so accommodating that persons who are citizens of the commonwealth can hold positions in our Parliament.

Pledge of allegiance

However, the Constitution rightly recognises that the pledge of allegiance and obedience to a foreign power is absolute, full and complete and, therefore, cannot be for two competing entities. The Bible also states that a person cannot serve two masters, meaning that it is impossible to be enslaved to two masters, that is, to have total commit-ment to two persons.

Additionally, to be a naturalised citizen of the United States (US) requires absolute allegiance. The oath states:

"I hereby declare, an oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance, and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state or sovereignty, of whom or which I have therefore been a subject or citizen, that I will support and defend the constitution and laws of the US ... ."

This oath is not only absolute, exclusive and comprehensive in its allegiance, but it also requires one to renounce one's Jamaican citizenship. Any legislator who makes that US pledge cannot truthfully and completely uphold our laws and constitution. Furthermore, that person could make laws which he or she knows he or she will not necessarily be subjected to. No legislator should have divided loyalty or a potential conflict of interest.

The writer also bemoaned the 'obscene and unnecessary' cost of the by-elections. In April 15, 2008, I said, 'It is not enough for someone to flout the Constitution and all that happens is a by-election. By-elections will cost the country millions of dollars.

As Prime Minister Golding said recently, "Just like the man who steals a coconut and is locked up, so it is that those who tamper with people's money will be charged" (April 9). The ruling by the chief justice means that a person who steals a coconut will get a harsher punishment than a politician who flouts the Constitution.

By-election

A politician who flouts the Constitution and causes the country to incur cost for a by-election should at least be fined the cost of the by-election.'

Foreign allegiance undermines our Independence in other ways, and this means we do not have full sovereignty in Jamaica. It is time for Jamaicans not to have a foreigner as head of state, a British Queen who lives in England and to which country Jamaicans now have to obtain a visa in order to visit. Our courts start with a salutation to the Queen; Rotary club meetings have a toast to the Queen and at the enrolment of Girls' Brigade and Boys' Scout there is a pledge of allegiance to the Queen. All these allegiances undermine our Independence and give the impression that we cannot be trusted to manage our own affairs after 47 years of 'Independence'.

Devon Dick is pastor of the Boulevard Baptist Church and author of Rebellion to Riot: The Church in Nation Building. Feedback may be sent to columns@gleanerjm.com.