ONLINE FEEDBACK

Below is feedback from our online readers about the resignation of Everald Warmington and the dual-citizenship saga.

Mr Golding is admitting that he flouted the law and thumbed his nose at us all. This is the most outrageous thing he has said, and shows his utter contempt for the law and Jamaica because he knows he can get away with it.

The Gleaner should be calling for his immediate resignation.

- Paul

Mr Golding is unabashed that "we have been aware of the status for some time", but that political expediency trumped the Constitution. He was aware of the status and said nothing. And how can political expediency trump the Constitution?

Where in the Constitution is such a provision allowed? If this is true, the Constitution can be sacrificed or ignored anytime the PM thinks it is to his advantage to do so. The conclusion I have come to is that we have politicians who are governing the country with reckless abandon to any principles, constitutional requirements or ethics. This is exactly why we have the Dudus debacle, the signing of the memoranda of understanding without Cabinet approval, politicians who are in bed with dons, and MPs who hold dual citizenship.

- Mistermel

I was wondering if anyone would have the courage to address what the PM said. Congratulations on The Gleaner's courage. I liked your objectivity and, of course, both sides must declare dual citizenship. This is a must. But I throw this question: Is what the PM did legal? So the Government would have collapsed - perhaps, on hindsight, not a bad thing to happen. I personally feel violated by this Government.

- Mama_ess

Political parties in Jamaica do what they can to perpetuate their stay in power, first and foremost. The betterment of society is not Job One despite all the utterances of the nattering nabobs in both the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) and the People's National Party (PNP). They break the law and otherwise violate the Constitution not simply by seating dual citizens in Parliament but by consorting with criminals.

I'm not holding my breath waiting for this present lot to reform themselves. It's going to take something equivalent to what happened in Egypt and Tunisia before we can hope to see better from both the JLP and PNP.

- TrevDiMan

Mere "constitutional technicalities" - that is how PM Golding characterised the dual-citizenship debate. That was a flip.

Now there is the protection of the constitutional rights of a Jamaican citizen - that is the Dudus extradition affair. That is the flop.

Chief Servant or Chief Spider in web of deception?

- JA Cynic

This crusade against dual citizens smacks of an inquisition. And like all inquisitions, it could have significant negative consequences to the nation, particularly at this time when our economic prospects are bleak. Currently, we are dependent on the America-based diaspora for their remittances; without it our economy would be in even worse shape.

But, even more important, we would like many of them to come home, bringing with them the know-how they acquired to start businesses, market products as well as their ability to leverage relationships in the American business and investment communities.

We must not advocate slavish obedience to a particularly poorly thought-out section of our Constitution. After 48 years of ineffectiveness, it should be clear that our present structures are not capable of working.

- Sinnombre

Every time the PM speaks, he disappoints. It is worse when he is actually speaking frankly. Is there any way to get him to speak less or not speak at all? I hope he realises that if he loses the next election, he will be unable to continue as leader of the JLP because no one will believe a word he says and that is bad for democracy!

- Speak Up

I believe that we, the people of Jamaica, have the power to order the director of public prosecutions to bring criminal charges against all five JLP MPs and whatever the numbers may be in the PNP. Bring them up on charges of fraud and have them permanently banned from ever holding public office in Jamaica for life!

- Noshel

What a disgrace to the Jamaican Parliament. This warmonger has no class and thinks everyone is below him. Until members of parliament who lied about their citizenship be made to face the law for perjury and refund all monies received from the Government, this business-as-usual stance will continue.

Which side of 'his story' does the leadership of the party want to hear? He said what he said, and this is not the first, nor the second or third time he has been rude to the media.

- Yomster

These are the arrogant and disrespectful people who are leading us and, to an extent, the JLP. George William Gordon must be shedding tears in his grave to see people like this sitting in his house.

- Sexytann2

What does it take for the PM to see that this man is a liability to the party? Many of the citizens in his constituency are so used to his verbal abuse and erratic behaviour that they have acclimatised themselves to it.

- Mwhip

This type of behaviour is not confined to any one person or any one party.

The people of Jamaica seem to have a very high tolerance for shoddy behaviour and seem to invite this type of attitude from their elected officials (open examples are K.D. Knight and Everald Warmington).

The media seem to relish poor behaviour only if it is directed at others and not at themselves. Well, it is high time they demand a higher standard from elected officials.

- St Marian

Bloody hypocrites! Why are they alarmed at Warmington's behaviour? This is common behaviour for our MPs. How many times has the nation witnessed the vulgar tracing matches in our Parliament. No better herring, no better barrel! The last time they tried to take disciplinary action against Warmington, he challenged them.

Many people don't know the history between Warmington and the JLP. The Gleaner should publish a column on the history of Warmington and the JLP, starting from the 1980 general election. I have seen this man in action, and it is frightening. The man is a warrior in every meaning of the word.

- Mystic 007

All the howls of concern that Falmouth will cause tourism-related businesses to buckle in MoBay and 'Ochi' might not be true. Coleen Clarke told us two Saturdays ago that many of the cruise-ship visitors to Falmouth aren't even spending much time in the town.

Watch out for People's Report every Saturday, where citizens give us the real deal on the ground.