I have been called an activist and an apologist. Some have said that I have no sense. No problem, mon. I am the one who decided to go out there to assist others and to be a consumer advocate. I am the one who decided to get into broadcasting and also to be a blogger. My involvement exposes me to all types of weather, but I continue to weather the storm.
On the flip side, I do appreciate the love that many people have shown me. I cannot afford to hate any group of people because people in the church, political parties, and other organizations have been good to me, especially in these difficult times.
One of the reasons for my attacks in recent times is because of the points I made about being a citizen of Jamaica in one of my blogs. Recently, I had a group of people take me on in the supermarket. They heard me on my cellular phone discussing the citizen matter highlighted in the Golding vs Holness debate. While I was in the line at the supermarket, a young man with an English accent introduced himself to me and stated that he was trained in the UK as a lawyer and specializes in constitutional law. My response to him was that I am Vernon Derby.
It is interesting to note that at the end of the conversation, he agreed with me that one can be born in a country and not be a citizen of that country. His father was born in Jamaica and was now living in the United Kingdom. He discovered late in the day that his father was not a citizen, although he was born in Jamaica. His father did not have a birth certificate.
If you were born in Jamaica, you should get one of the new birth certificates produced by their Registrar General Department (RGD) computerized system. The registration paper or the white paper is not a birth certificate; it is merely a registration of your birth.
Note also that if you were born in Jamaica and you return to the island using a foreign passport, then you should be given a limited time to stay on the island, unless you ask for an extension.
My position on this matter is that no member of the Houses of Parliament, permanent secretaries, Cabinet Secretary, or other such persons holding similar positions should be citizens of another country.
Please do not call and cuss me out or abuse me in public when you read this blog. Double-check if the information here is correct. What is important is to get the correct information, not to defend a political party or a person.
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So the thousands if not over a million old people who "born yah" especially in rural parts, probably live all their life and dead but did not care to go spanish town to get the new pretty cert, are you saying they are not Jamaicans?
ReplyDeleteI used to work at PICA. If you are born here but your birth was never registered and you have no birth certificate but want to be LEGALLY recognized as a citizen, then you have to apply for "Citizenship of Jamaica in Case of Doubt". That is the law.
DeleteMy view on this is, no matter if you own a new or old birth certificate makes you citizen.
ReplyDeleteMy view on this is, having a birth certificate new or old makes you a citizen of that country.
ReplyDeleteCitizenship is not always determined by where you are born. The birthplace of your parents plays a part. There are countries who have such law. I believe Cayman among others.
ReplyDeleteEvery Jamaican is required to have the current birth certificate.
ReplyDelete