Kidnapped!

 I don't think in ancient times, one could have had more privileges than those granted by the Roman Empire to its citizens. That is why the story in Acts of the Apostles about how the Centurian became afraid when he heard that St. Paul was a born Roman citizen, was significant.

Being an American citizen may not cause such fear and trembling, but it sure carries a few privileges internationally, not the least being that one does not need to have a visa to travel to numerous foreign countries. And when their citizens are abroad and encounter legal or other challenges, the American passport guarantees outstanding protection and representation from the embassies. 

So yes, I waited patiently to get a coveted American citizenship.

Problem is the creaking bureaucracy can detract from the benefits!

When I planned my trip to Southern Africa, the plan was to use my Jamaican passport since most countries in Africa do not require visas from us. Anyway, I had not yet become a citizen of that powerful country so I had no idea that my plans would be stymied by bureaucrats.

 What was I forced to learn was that the moment you become a US citizen, you must immediately get a US passport if you wish to travel outside of the country, for instantly the Green Card which you were initially issued is taken back. And since your visitors' visa to the USA which had been stamped in your native passport was cancelled when you got the Green Card, without the new passport you are stuck in the county.

So, how long does it take to get a US passport? Five to seven weeks IF YOU PAY TO HAVE IT EXPIDITED!

Unfortunately for me, I got my citizenship three weeks before I was due to take off to the motherland, so now I feel I have been kidnapped and detained by the system, as I can't leave the country until that cherished passport arrives some two weeks after I am due to depart.

Damn.

Did you know that in a ****hole country like Jamaica, you can get an expedited passport in a week?

Oh well, fortunately for me, my philosophy of life is that; Everything happens for the greater good.

So 2023, Southern Africa here I come as I wait to see what the greater good will be !

West Portland By-election

The west Portland by-election called on March 23rd, 2009, because Abe Dabdoud successfully convinced the courts that Daryl Vaz was in breach of the constitution because he had sworn allegiance to the United States of America is now over, thank God for Vaz renounced his US citizenship then went on to give the PNP’s Kenneth Rowe a thorough whopping! 

However, the issues should not be allowed to die. For we as a people need to decide if we will continue the ridiculous situation whereby persons who hold dual citizenship with some foreign countries should not be able to make laws affecting all of us, while others who also have one foot in and one foot out of Jamaica should be allowed, by virtue of this commonwealth nonsense. 

 This is the loophole that the Peoples National Party sought to crawl through when they arrogantly disrespected the voters in west Portland. For by pretending to be super patriots fighting to have only representatives loyal to Jamaica in the parliament, they sneaked thorough the loophole in the Constitution allowing commonwealth citizens to run, and tried to impose Kenneth Rowe, a Canadian citizen, who unlike Vaz was not prepared to give up his dual citizenship and put Jamaica first, on the people. They were severely rejected, partly for that act of immorality.

 As far as I am concerned, if persons are not 100 percent committed to Jamaica, Then give them, any job their little hearts could desire except governor general or as members in the upper or lower house.

 For why should persons who are not totally committed to Jamaica and who are not prepared to live with the consequences of their legislative decisions be allowed to pass laws to affect the rest of us? For too long these double standards have been allowed to prevail and while many of us did not pay much attention to the constitution, now that we have learnt of this anomaly via a very expensive lesson, (the by-election cost in the region of $30 million) we need to correct it. In my book, anyone who holds a Green card or citizenship papers to any other country apart from this fair isle, should never be allowed to pass legislation affecting us period. If they truly believe in what they are doing, then let them do like Vaz and remove all doubt about what they are up to.