ST. GEORGE'S (CMC):
THE GRENADIAN Parliament has approved a motion that will authorise the Speaker of the House of Representatives to enquire into the citizenship status of every member of the House on Nomination Day prior to the 2003 General Election.
Opposition legislators voted against the motion after the government rejected their amendments that would have called for the declaration of citizenship status of Members of Parliament since 1984.
Government tabled the motion after Minister of Legal Affairs, Elvin Nimrod, told reporters that opposition MP Peter David was a Canadian citizen and, therefore, his status as an MP should be nullified.
"We are seeking a constitu-tional requirement in terms of the qualification and disqualifi-cation to sit in this Honourable House," Nimrod said.
CONSTITUTIONAL IMPLICATIONS
However, opposition members refused to give any details about their citizenship status, amid a warning by the Speaker that their non-cooperation could be contempt of Parliament.
"My concern is that this issue has serious constitutional implications," said Opposition Leader Tillman Thomas. "There are implications for some Members of Parliament who functioned as ministers and who at the time held citizenship of foreign countries,"
The ruling New National Party has maintained its call for David to resign because of his Canada citizenship, which he has held since 1992.
Last month, Nimrod and special adviser to Cabinet, Hugh Wildman, said that the seat held by David should be declared null, and called for a by-election. David, who has since confirmed his dual citizenship, denied violating the constitution of Grenada.
