Jamaica stands to gain by being in the Commonwealth

THE EDITOR, Madam:

I am writing with reference to the article ‘No room for non-J’cans’, published in The Gleaner on June 6. Thank you very much for stating the positions that are sensitive and that dual citizens are unacceptable; and also, the many factual pieces of information provided.

When Jamaica gains the status of parliamentary republic, it will still be a member of the Commonwealth of Nations, or ‘the Commonwealth’. This means “commonwealth country” will always be a provision in the Constitution of the Parliamentary Republic of Jamaica.

Being a member of the Commonwealth is very good for Jamaica and its people. The Commonwealth has 56 member states.

I am encouraging every Jamaican to educate themselves about the tremendous support that Jamaica will gain by being a member of the Commonwealth, whose member countries have a combined population of over 2.6 billion, support each other in trade, development, culture, and in being a cohesive force for their nations.

India is a member of the Commonwealth with a population of 1.44 billion (2024) and a republic.

We need to stop listening to the negatives about the Commonwealth. Read about the facts and educate yourself by visiting https://the commonwealth.org and Wikipedia: Commonwealth of Nations to get important information.

However, with due respect, with Jamaica moving to be a parliamentary republic, the qualifications for Commonwealth citizens to stand as candidates in the general elections or UK Parliamentary General Election will not change. So, there is nothing we can do about allowing Commonwealth citizens to get elected and sit in the parliament.

Section 39 of the Constitution is the immigration (employment and taxation laws) that says that a Commonwealth citizen applying for a job in Jamaica, and are lawful residents of Jamaica.

CARGILL KELLY