The Editor, Sir:

I am indebted to attorney R. Brown (Gleaner, October 12) for making a useful distinction on the subject of dual citizenship among Commonwealth citizens. R. Brown's letter said that when a citizen of Jamaica - and, therefore, the Commonwealth - applies for citizenship of another Common-wealth country, the process is one of registration, not naturalisation.

Thus, the applicant in such circumstances is not required to swear allegiance, obedience or adherence to any other Commonwealth country of which he/she seeks to become a citizen. Nor is there a requirement in this case to surrender Jamaican citizenship.

Perhaps we could go one step further and say that since the Queen is head of the Commonwealth, citizens of Commonwealth countries are in no way obligated to proffer allegiance twice, or thrice for that matter; it is the same Queen.

Of course, those who are clamouring for Jamaica to become a republic might want to think about the impact such a move might have on their dual citizenship!

Yet, the point of the debate that has arisen in Jamaica over the past seven weeks or so is really not about dual citizenship as such. It is pointedly about whether people who have renounced their Jamaican citizenship in order to become citizens of the United States of America (for I understand that this is what happens) can reclaim their Jamaican citizenship while continuing to hold U.S. citizenship.

This is a case where there is no umbrella of a Queen or monarch of the two countries, so this is where the story comes to bump. Can a Jamaican who has sworn allegiance to the U.S. in order to gain U.S. citizenship still hold his/her U.S. citizenship along with the Jamaican citizenship?

I have not had the fortune to see this aspect discussed in the newspapers and suggest that this would be a useful inquiry to pursue.

I am, etc.,

EWART WALTERS

Ottawa, Canada