People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Member of Parliament (MP) and Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Oneidge Walrond was a citizen of the United States of America (U.S.A) at the time she took the Oath to serve as a Member of the Guyana Parliament.
According to the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs’ Certificate of Loss of Nationality of the United States, Walrond took the Oath of Renunciation on September 4, 2020 while the Certificate of Loss of Nationality was approved on the 8th September.
She was sworn in as a MP on September 1, 2020.
Article 155 of the Constitution prohibits persons who hold dual citizenship from serving as Parliamentarians.
Walrond had admitted that she was a citizen of the U.S. when she was sworn in as a Minister of Government on August 5, but was tight lipped on the date she was issued the Certificate of Renunciation.
On Thursday, Clerk of the National Assembly, Sherlock Isaacs, submitted a copy of Walrond’s Certificate of Loss of Nationality of the United States, to A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) Member of Parliament, Roysdale Forde, SC via a correspondence.
In the letter, the Clerk, who sought legal advice before making public the document, pointed out two primary facts. “Mrs. Oneidge Walrond voluntarily took an Oath of Renunciation regarding her nationality of the United States of America during the month of September, 2020…Mrs. Oneidge Walrond lost her nationality to the United States of American immediately upon taking the said Oath of Renunciation,” Isaacs informed the APNU+AFC Parliamentarian.
Earlier this week, Forde had written the Clerk to indicate that the Coalition is of the view that Walrond is unlawfully a member of the National Assembly and it ought to so be declared and requested a copy of Waldron’s Certificate of Renunciation.
President Irfaan Ali, when questioned on whether his Minister had breached the Constitution, told the press that Walrond was an honourable woman. The APNU+AFC Coalition has initiated legal proceedings against Walrond.
