7 News Belize

...And Weighs in on Dual Nationality
posted (August 18, 2009)

And while he's spent months in a Miami hospital, don’t think that Esquivel hasn't been keeping up. He's very abreast of current political affairs and surprisingly the view of the senior adviser to the Prime Minister on dual citizenship in the National Assembly differed from the Cabinet position.

Rt. Hon. Manuel Esquivel, Survived Accident
“We are talking here about Belizeans coming home to live and whether they should be allowed to contest elections having dual nationality. The question has been posed by those who oppose, well simply give up your other nationality and you’ll be fine. I think that is a powerful argument. I know of two Belizeans who have done that, not for the purpose of running but as a requirement and showed that their commitment was strong enough and have done it.

So there are Belizeans committed enough who are willing to do that but it is a great sacrifice we have to admit. US citizenship is one of the most prized citizenships in the world I would imagine so I can see how difficult it would be for people but I tend to lean with that opinion that if you come back home and intend to live here, that is the commitment you should be making, this will be your residence for that period of time then you should be willing to give it up.”

Those two people he mentioned are Pearl Stuart who gave up her US citizenship to become Belizean consul in Los Angeles and the American born James Murphy who gave up his US citizenship to be Cabinet Secretary. Esquivel says he has not yet reviewed the Cabinet paper on it and looks forward to doing so. And for good measure, he added that he is opposed to absentee allotting which he feels may logically extend from this proposed amendment.

Home | Archives | Downloads/Podcasts | Advertise | Contact Us

7 News Belize