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<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">JAMAICA - Sharon Hay-Webster crosses the floor to join the JLP
TUESDAY, 01 NOVEMBER 2011 20:19
KINGSTON, Jamaica – November 1, 2011, Independent Member of Parliament (MP) for South Central St. Catherine Sharon Hay Webster on Tuesday crossed the floor to take her place on the government benches thus giving the ruling party an increased majority in the House of Representatives.
The three term Member of Parliament She told the House that she was comfortable to cross the floor and join the governing party.
She will represent the Jamaica Labour Party, JLP, in the upcoming General Elections.
Mrs. Hay-Webster who became an independent MP in June after resigning from the People's National Party said she had begun the process of renouncing her U.S. Citizenship.
“Yesterday I submitted my application to become a member of the JLP, I have also renounced by citizenship of the United States of America ….the decision to join the JLP ultimately was an easy one for me, ” Hay Webster said.
She will now begin the process of resigning her seat and prepare to represent the JLP in the newly created Eastern St Catherine seat.
After the sitting she told reporters that she was justified in her decision to give up her dual citizenship at this stage and join the governing party.
“I still hold that my circumstance is different but at this point based on advise and you have to respect public opinion, not everyone would understand all of what I am doing and opinion is what drives the support…” she said
On the 29th of June, Mrs Hay-Webster resigned from the People’s National Party and made it clear that she "will now sit as an independent member in the House of Representatives until her case is fully ventilated before the Supreme Court of Jamaica."
In a letter to PNP President Mrs. Simpson Miller, Mrs. Hay Webster said she was asserting her right to due process before the Supreme Court of Jamaica. She noted that “it is after deep consideration and an acknowledgement of the fact that the position of myself and the PNP with regards to my dual citizenship case is irreconcilable, that I tender my resignation as a member of the party.”
The South Central St. Catherine MP also stated that it should “be placed on record that it is regrettable that the party has refused to stand with me or give adequate consideration to the fact that due process must be allowed to take its course.”
Mrs. Hay-Webster pointed out that “in the face of a body of legal opinion substantiating my stance from day one, that my case is inherently different from those decided, I insist I will not be rushed or pushed but is intent on allowing due process to take its course. This is my right.”
She told RJR’s Beyond the Headlines host Dionne Jackson Miller that she had been pressured to resign from the PNP and as a Member of Parliament. However she still has plans to represent the constituency as an independent candidate.
“I was being pressured to resign in both senses, both as MP and also from the party, “ she declared.
“And when we say pressure…pressure meaning, officials, persons you know are speaking for the hierarchy of the party?” Dionne Jackson-Miller asked.
“Yes I received calls to that effect, I received that and in fact I asked for meetings having received that call to just consider the factors being put on the table.” Mrs Hay-Webster responded.
In her letter of resignation Mrs Hay- Webster expressed appreciation for the opportunity the PNP has given her to serve the country, noting that “not withstanding the fact that the PNP in my view has diverged from the values of Norman and Michael Manley, that of nation building, capacity building and seeking to safeguard the interest of the lesser fortunate, I am genuinely appreciative of the opportunity that the PNP has allowed me to serve the party, the country and on the international scene.”
The Jamaica Labour Party had stepped up its call for Mrs Hay-Webster to resign because of her dual citizenship status following reveleations from a Wikileaks cable which suggested that she changed her mind about renouncing her United States citizenship.
In a letter to the Gleaner newspaper, Mrs. Hay Webster said she did not seek legal advice on the constitutionality of her status before she went to the US Embassy in 2009 with the intention to renounce her citizenship.
She said a few days later she sought and received legal advice from a local as well as a US attorney and based on that advice telephoned the US Embassy and advised that she would not be proceeding with the exercise.
In her letter Mrs. Hay Webster insisted that all the issues involved in the interpretation of the particular section of the Jamaican Constitution have not yet been fully ventilated and determined by the Supreme Court.
According to her, the meaning of "by virtue of his own act" needs to be determined by the courts and not by those she says are driven by personal agendas or partisan feelings, and who seek to drive her from exercising her constitutional rights.
Mrs. Hay-Webster said the Supreme Court has to rule on the particular circumstances of her status as provided for in the Constitution.
And she said she will abide with whatever decision the court makes regarding her case.
The third term Parliamentarian is being challenged by the Jamaica Labour Party's Devon McDaniel, concerning her nomination and election as the representative for the constituency of South Central St. Catherine.
Mrs. Hay-Webster, who is being represented by Donna Scott - Mottley, was served with legal documents in the matter in January.
Attorney-at-law Alexander Williams, who is waging the battle challenging Mrs. Hay-Webster’s eligibility, has argued that because she has a United States passport as an adult, it means she would have been subject to an oath of allegiance to that foreign state.
As a result, the attorney is insisting that Mrs. Hay-Webster be disqualified from sitting as an MP.
However, Mrs. Hay-Webster has publicly declared that she was born in the United States and her only sworn allegiance is to Jamaica.
Mike Henry, the Chairman of the governing Jamaica Labour Party said at the time that Mrs. Hay Webster should immediately give up her seat and urged the Opposition People’s National Party (PNP) to ensure that she does.
The People's National Party maintains that it was misled by Mrs Hay-Webster as prior to the 2007 elections, all its candidates were asked to ensure that they met the constitutional requirements to be eligible to sit in parliament and that none were in a position to be considered as having dual citizenship.
Mrs May-Webster had reported to that party that she nad no such difficulty.</div></div>
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">JAMAICA - Sharon Hay-Webster crosses the floor to join the JLP
TUESDAY, 01 NOVEMBER 2011 20:19
KINGSTON, Jamaica – November 1, 2011, Independent Member of Parliament (MP) for South Central St. Catherine Sharon Hay Webster on Tuesday crossed the floor to take her place on the government benches thus giving the ruling party an increased majority in the House of Representatives.
The three term Member of Parliament She told the House that she was comfortable to cross the floor and join the governing party.
She will represent the Jamaica Labour Party, JLP, in the upcoming General Elections.
Mrs. Hay-Webster who became an independent MP in June after resigning from the People's National Party said she had begun the process of renouncing her U.S. Citizenship.
“Yesterday I submitted my application to become a member of the JLP, I have also renounced by citizenship of the United States of America ….the decision to join the JLP ultimately was an easy one for me, ” Hay Webster said.
She will now begin the process of resigning her seat and prepare to represent the JLP in the newly created Eastern St Catherine seat.
After the sitting she told reporters that she was justified in her decision to give up her dual citizenship at this stage and join the governing party.
“I still hold that my circumstance is different but at this point based on advise and you have to respect public opinion, not everyone would understand all of what I am doing and opinion is what drives the support…” she said
On the 29th of June, Mrs Hay-Webster resigned from the People’s National Party and made it clear that she "will now sit as an independent member in the House of Representatives until her case is fully ventilated before the Supreme Court of Jamaica."
In a letter to PNP President Mrs. Simpson Miller, Mrs. Hay Webster said she was asserting her right to due process before the Supreme Court of Jamaica. She noted that “it is after deep consideration and an acknowledgement of the fact that the position of myself and the PNP with regards to my dual citizenship case is irreconcilable, that I tender my resignation as a member of the party.”
The South Central St. Catherine MP also stated that it should “be placed on record that it is regrettable that the party has refused to stand with me or give adequate consideration to the fact that due process must be allowed to take its course.”
Mrs. Hay-Webster pointed out that “in the face of a body of legal opinion substantiating my stance from day one, that my case is inherently different from those decided, I insist I will not be rushed or pushed but is intent on allowing due process to take its course. This is my right.”
She told RJR’s Beyond the Headlines host Dionne Jackson Miller that she had been pressured to resign from the PNP and as a Member of Parliament. However she still has plans to represent the constituency as an independent candidate.
“I was being pressured to resign in both senses, both as MP and also from the party, “ she declared.
“And when we say pressure…pressure meaning, officials, persons you know are speaking for the hierarchy of the party?” Dionne Jackson-Miller asked.
“Yes I received calls to that effect, I received that and in fact I asked for meetings having received that call to just consider the factors being put on the table.” Mrs Hay-Webster responded.
In her letter of resignation Mrs Hay- Webster expressed appreciation for the opportunity the PNP has given her to serve the country, noting that “not withstanding the fact that the PNP in my view has diverged from the values of Norman and Michael Manley, that of nation building, capacity building and seeking to safeguard the interest of the lesser fortunate, I am genuinely appreciative of the opportunity that the PNP has allowed me to serve the party, the country and on the international scene.”
The Jamaica Labour Party had stepped up its call for Mrs Hay-Webster to resign because of her dual citizenship status following reveleations from a Wikileaks cable which suggested that she changed her mind about renouncing her United States citizenship.
In a letter to the Gleaner newspaper, Mrs. Hay Webster said she did not seek legal advice on the constitutionality of her status before she went to the US Embassy in 2009 with the intention to renounce her citizenship.
She said a few days later she sought and received legal advice from a local as well as a US attorney and based on that advice telephoned the US Embassy and advised that she would not be proceeding with the exercise.
In her letter Mrs. Hay Webster insisted that all the issues involved in the interpretation of the particular section of the Jamaican Constitution have not yet been fully ventilated and determined by the Supreme Court.
According to her, the meaning of "by virtue of his own act" needs to be determined by the courts and not by those she says are driven by personal agendas or partisan feelings, and who seek to drive her from exercising her constitutional rights.
Mrs. Hay-Webster said the Supreme Court has to rule on the particular circumstances of her status as provided for in the Constitution.
And she said she will abide with whatever decision the court makes regarding her case.
The third term Parliamentarian is being challenged by the Jamaica Labour Party's Devon McDaniel, concerning her nomination and election as the representative for the constituency of South Central St. Catherine.
Mrs. Hay-Webster, who is being represented by Donna Scott - Mottley, was served with legal documents in the matter in January.
Attorney-at-law Alexander Williams, who is waging the battle challenging Mrs. Hay-Webster’s eligibility, has argued that because she has a United States passport as an adult, it means she would have been subject to an oath of allegiance to that foreign state.
As a result, the attorney is insisting that Mrs. Hay-Webster be disqualified from sitting as an MP.
However, Mrs. Hay-Webster has publicly declared that she was born in the United States and her only sworn allegiance is to Jamaica.
Mike Henry, the Chairman of the governing Jamaica Labour Party said at the time that Mrs. Hay Webster should immediately give up her seat and urged the Opposition People’s National Party (PNP) to ensure that she does.
The People's National Party maintains that it was misled by Mrs Hay-Webster as prior to the 2007 elections, all its candidates were asked to ensure that they met the constitutional requirements to be eligible to sit in parliament and that none were in a position to be considered as having dual citizenship.
Mrs May-Webster had reported to that party that she nad no such difficulty.</div></div>
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