Newly-elected Deputy Speaker Lenox Shuman has submitted to the National Assembly proof that he no longer holds allegiance to any foreign power.
According to Clerk of the Assembly Sherlock Isaacs, following a meeting yesterday Shuman submitted the necessary documentation.
“I am in possession of a certified copy of a renunciation certificate dated 09/01/2020,” Isaacs told Stabroek News when contacted.
The date of renunciation recorded on the certificate is one day before the January 10, Nomination Day for the March 2nd general elections.
With this submission all three current members of the Assembly who held dual citizenship in the 11th Parliament have proven that they no longer do. The other two members are Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance Gail Teixeira and Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon.
They have at the request of the Clerk proved themselves in compliance with Article 115(1) of the Constitution.
Isaacs in a letter sent to all members on Monday reminded that the Article states that no person shall be qualified for election as a member of the National Assembly who— (a) is, by virtue of his own act, under any acknowledgement of allegiance, obedience or adherence to a foreign power or state.
He noted that in 2019 the Guyana Court of Appeal conclusively ruled that a person is not eligible to be elected if they hold dual citizenship before asking that those members who held allegiance or adherence to a foreign power or state during the 11th parliament and have relinquished same to submit proof of relinquishment.
Harmon and Teixeira along with four other members of the 11th Parliament, Dominic Gaskin, Carl Greenidge, Rupert Roopnaraine and Odinga Lumumba had resigned after the January, 2019 ruling.
Teixeira who previously held Canadian citizenship announced that she had renounced in October 2019 and submitted her certification of renunciation to the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) on nomination day. She also at the request of the Clerk submitted same to his office before taking the Oath as a member of the 12th Parliament.
Harmon also announced in November that he had renounced the American citizenship he formerly held. He too submitted the certificate as requested.
Shuman had announced in February that he had renounced his Canadian citizenship but resisted efforts by GECOM to have him present proof.
In fact the Commission had removed his name from his party’s list of Candidates when asking for him to show that he was eligible to hold office on Nomination Day, January 10.
In response Shuman threatened legal action and his lawyer engaged in a lengthy correspondence with the Commission.
In a six-page correspondence sent to GECOM Chairperson Claudette Singh, attorney, K Juman-Yassin argued that on December 11th, 2019, Shuman, his client, officially renounced his Canadian citizenship, making him fully eligible under Articles 53 and 155 of Guyana’s Constitution to be elected as a member of the National Assembly.
