Grant proves renounced citizenship, withholds document from public

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – FULFILLING a promise made last month, Lindsay Grant, leader of St. Kitts opposition party the People’s Action Movement (PAM), has produced a certificate allegedly verifying his loss of United States citizenship.

Grant presented the certificate during a PAM press conference held earlier today (Aug. 6) at the Ocean Terrace Inn. The issue of dual citizenship is a contentious one in local politics, as both PAM and the governing St. Kitts Nevis Labour Party (SKNLP) have accused each other’s candidates of holding allegiance to foreign powers.

The Federation’s Constitution debars naturalised citizens of foreign jurisdictions from sitting in Parliament.

“I have promised the citizens of this country that no PAM candidate will be ineligible to run for the upcoming election due to dual citizenship issues. I, therefore, have my certificate in hand to prove all the steps have been taken, and I will not be in contravention of the Constitution,” Grant said at the press conference.

SKNVibes was able to view the document, which is entitled “Certificate of Loss of Nationality of the United States”. It was stamped with the seal of the US government, was signed by US Embassy Officer Jamal Al Mussawi and stated that Grant voluntarily took the oath of renunciation on June 29, 2009 before a Consular Officer.

While he had no problem displaying the certificate to the media personnel assembled, Grant noted certain steps would have to be taken before he would allow it to undergo public scrutiny.

“I am prepared to put my certificate on this very table for inspection to the public and press, but citizens must also be aware that we are awaiting a few other documents to be made public,” he said. 

“My certificate will be laid on the table with other outstanding documents, such as the report from the bridge collapse, the report from the fire at the power plant, the report for the electricity fiasco with the purchase of the generators and the inquiry into the police force. I am prepared today, and any day, that the Prime Minister produces those reports, to lay my report on the table for general inspection.”

On July 1, Grant and PAM Deputy Leader Shawn Richards announced they had travelled to the US Embassy in Barbados and taken an Oath of Renunciation, therefore relinquishing their US citizenship. Two days later, Parliament amended the National Assembly Elections Bill so that candidates seeking nomination must present proof and swear an oath that they do not have dual citizenship.

Despite the announcement by the two PAM leaders at that time, rumours that they still held US citizenship persisted. Grant consequently promised to present his certificate of renunciation so that any talk to the contrary would be dispelled.

The PAM leader also divulged that his party would be going ahead with a challenge to the aforementioned amendment on the basis of it being “unconstitutional”.