Jamaica, Cuba: Dual Citizenship
Written byJanine Mendes-Franco
“”What would Daryl Vaz do if he had to visit Cuba on state business?” That simple question forces Francis Wade to reconsider his views on dual citizenship and political position in Jamaica.
Written byJanine Mendes-Franco
1 comment
Just some food for thought: In the 1970s my husband and I were recruited by the Jamaican Government. My husband became the Personal Assistant to the Min. of Health and accompanied the Minister to Cuba. From Cuba my husband sent postcards to his relatives in the U.S.A. Within days, the Secret Service paid a vist to all recipients of those postcards. When the CIA was satisfied that there was no threat to National Security, no further action was taken. When I inquired about it, the U.S. govt advised me that it was just a precautionary measure & since my husband was on “official business” for the Jamaican Govt, there was no further concern. He also returned to the U.S. with no problem. In fact, he lives in Florida today. Think about how many U.S citizens are living/working outside of the USA.
Remember also, that anyone born of another Country can run for any political office in the U.S. EXCEPT for the Presidency (must be a Natural born citizen). (uumm! Does this mean that Eddie Seaga can run for the Presidency of the United States?) Many Jamaicans, having dual citizenship, are in polictical office in America. My current husband, an American asked me this confounded question: “So, now that Jamaica has forced Mr. Vaz to renounce his U.S. citizenship, now what?” “Is Jamaica any better off or is it in the same position before Vaz was a dual citizen?” Renouncing is purely a “symbolic gesture” and for all intents and purposes, means not one doggone thing. IN FACT, WOULDN’T ANY JAMAICAN POLITICIAN BE IN A BETTER POSITION TO RUN LEF’ JAMAICA THAN THE COMMON MAN IF EVER ANARCHY OR COMMUNISM TAKES HOLD OF THE ISLAND?
I am attaching the positon that the U.S. Govt has taken in regard to Dual Citizenship and “renouncing” allegiance to another Country. Taken from the U.S. Citizen Library:
Most citizenship oaths [to other countries] are historical and have little legal power. The US State Department’s position is: The Department has a uniform administrative standard of evidence based on the premise that US citizens intend to retain United States citizenship when they obtain naturalization in a foreign state, subscribe to routine declarations of allegiance to a foreign state, or accept non-policy level employment with a foreign government. [And even with this last statement], here is the U.S. policy:
Many other countries do not recognize the act of renouncing their citizenship as part of US naturalization, so a new US citizen may very likely still be considered a citizen by his old country. This is apparently a big reason why the State Department decided (in 1990) not to go after people any more, as a rule, when they continue to let their old country treat them as a citizen despite US naturalization.
Re: taxation:
In practice, such situations are often smoothed over via tax treaties and the like, but conflicts could (and sometimes do) occur. Also, be aware that most countries (the US is the main exception) base liability for income tax on residence (where one lives) and/or source of income, not solely on citizenship; thus, dual citizenship usually does not automatically translate into double taxation.
Malaika354
Post a Comment
Links to this post:
Jamaica, Cuba: Dual Citizenship
“”What would Daryl Vaz do if he had to visit Cuba on state business?” That simple question forces Francis Wade to reconsider his views on dual citizenship and political position in Jamaica.
posted by Janine Mendes-Franco @ 5/19/2008 5:13 AM
Create a Link
<< Home
To receive my blog by email, simply complete the form below and you’ll be notified whenever I post a new entry.
Enter your Email
Preview | Powered by FeedBlitz
About Me
Name: Francis Wade
Location: Kingston, Jamaica
I’m a management consultant with a passion for transforming Caribbean workplaces, economies and society. My background includes: Wolmers, Cornell, Engineering, AT&T Bell Labs, Framework Consulting, New Jersey, Florida, IronMan, marriage, personal transformations, spiritual discoveries, moving back to Jamaica, blogging, and some more.
View my complete profile
A List of My Personal Blogs
Chronicles from a Caribbean Cubicle
The 2Time Mgt System
Cutters Cycling Club
Friends of Tinga Turner
Miamiman: triathlon race prep (dormant)
Previous Posts
Expat First-Hand Accounts in Jamaica
Bad Mind?
Moving to Jamaica — Assisting Expats
Danville Walker — our most famous returnee
Danville Walker — the Latest Casualty of the US C…
The Four Kinds of Information Available in Jamaica…
Busy Like an American
A Certain Vehement Pride
Dual Citizenship and the Jamaican Diaspora
An Interesting Poem