Dual Citizenship dispute a "distraction" says political commentator.

Opposition Leader, Mark Golding speaking at a PNP event.

Claims and counter claims continue in the row between Opposition Leader and President of the PNP, Mark Golding and political representatives of the ruling Jamaica Labour Party (JLP). Member of Parliament for Western Portland, Daryl Vaz revealed to the media on Monday (May 20) that Mark Golding did not apply for his Jamaican passport until he was age 46. 

In defense of their party leader, the PNP asserted that Minister Vaz violated the Opposition Leader's privacy and raised concerns as to the easy access he had to this information from PICA (Passport, Immigration and Citizenship Agency). 

Speaking on the matter Senator Peter Bunting said:

"It certainly gives me concern, as a Jamaican, that Daryl Vaz can go into PICA's database and get information about when I applied for a passport, when I've travelled, when I've not travelled; that is very disturbing to me".

He was speaking on Radio Jamaica's Beyond the Headlines, on Monday.

It was very disturbing, "in this era of data privacy," he said, that a Cabinet minister is in a position to be providing such details concerning Mr Golding, "even before he was a member of government!"

Minister Vaz has however hit back claiming that he received this information from a source inside the PNP party. This morning (May 21) Minister Vaz made this statement via his X (formerly Twitter) account, and added that like good journalists, good politicians never call the names of their trusted sources.

Speaking on Cliff Hughes Online on Monday morning, Vaz revealed that it was only in 2011 that then Senator Mark Golding applied for a Jamaican passport.

Golding was 46-years-old at the time.

Vaz declared it was shameful that Mr. Golding sat for four years as a legislator, helping to make laws as a parliamentarian, before seeing the need to obtain a Jamaican passport.

Vaz therefore suggested that Golding may have been pushed to get the document because he wanted the privilege of having a diplomatic passport, should the PNP form the government and he became a minister of government.

Golding was appointed Justice Minister in January 2012, after the PNP won the general election.

But all of this back and forth by members of the political directorate is seen as a distraction by noted political commentator Dr. Paul Ashley.

Weighing in on the dispute, Dr. Ashley says Mr Golding's British citizenship is a non-issue as the constitution allows for any citizen of a Commonwealth country to be a member of the Jamaican Parliament.

Mr Golding, as "a dual citizen who has Commonwealth status" is qualified to be elected to the Jamaican House of Representatives or appointment to the Senate.

He further noted, "any Member of Parliament can be Prime Minister; there's nothing special for you to be a prime minister, other than having the support of a majority of elected members."