...And Weighs in on Dual Nationality |
Tue, August 18, 2009 |
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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. |