New citizenship law unconstitutional

The main opposition People’s Action Movement says it intends to challenge a recently approved legislation requiring candidates in an election to first take an oath indicating that he or she does not hold dual citizenship.



The leader of the People’s Action Movement, Lindsay Grant, said the new legislation is unconstitutional.



Section 28 (a) of the St. Kitts and Nevis Constitution, says a person is not qualified to sit in Parliament if he or she is under any acknowledgement of allegiance, obedience or adherence to a foreign power or state.



The new law however now says, when a candidate presents himself on Nomination Day the returning officer is given the power to determine if he or she is in good standing.