Dear Editor,
I have read with much interest the steps that Minister Walrond stated she took to renounce U. S. citizenship. I am certain that she had the intent, but the reality is that renunciation is a serious (generally irrevocable) step and cannot be completed by evincing a mere intent or by executing an affidavit.
There is a formal process as described in Section 349(a)(5) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. One has to make a “formal renunciation of nationality before a diplomatic or consular officer of the United States in a foreign state, in such form as may be prescribed by the Secre-tary of State.” After the oath of renunciation is signed before the officer, a Certificate of Loss of Nationality is then issued. That and only that completes the process.
The issue then is this: what date does Ms. Walrond’s Certificate of Loss of Nationality bear? Is it after she actually took the oath to sit in parliament in Guyana? If so, then is that flaw cured by her current status?
Mr. Sherlock Isaacs, Clerk of the National Assembly, is correctly seeking legal advice. The rulings on this issue need to be revisited for clarity. Ms. Walrond should do the same as to how to proceed expeditiously and not let this matter play out in the media.
Yours faithfully,
Dolly Hassan, Ph.D., Esq.
