THE dual citizenship restriction that forced Daryl Vaz to renounce his United States citizenship and Danville Walker to resign his position as director of elections, was roundly condemned yesterday as “archaic and insulting”.

Some of Jamaica’s leading women in business lashed out strongly against the constitutional provision that disqualifies those holding a foreign passport and having dual citizenship from serving in certain key public offices.

The women, who attended a special luncheon hosted by Observer chairman Gordon ‘Butch’ Stewart at the Observer’s Beechwood Avenue offices yesterday, called the laws an insult to those who had dual citizenship who wanted, and had the training, to give back to their country.

“When we were in the States, we were encouraged to get our citizenship so we could vote. Then we were encouraged to come home and contribute, and when you do, they tell you that you can’t,” complained Audrey Hinchcliffe, the current Jamaica Employers Federation (JEF) president.

Hinchcliffe, who admitted to holding US citizenship, said: “At no time were we told that there was a law (against dual citizenship). It’s an insult to us who have contributed and who come back here trying to make a contribution… to come back here and hear this.”

Stewart, who has been hosting a series of similar luncheons providing an outlet for various sectors of the Jamaican society to air their issues, used the opportunity to announce an annual event celebrating the “Most Influential Women in Jamaica”, akin to the highly successful Business Leader Awards.

The hotel mogul said the event would single out “the women who have been working to transform the country and their communities, and the women who understand that their journey in life should not be self-serving, but should be dedicated to serving others”.

“We want to highlight the women, from all parishes, who have touched lives, created hope and made an impact, the women who understand that being influential has less to do with position or title, or indeed random acts of kindness or charity, but from working towards a purpose and helping people gain meaning wherever they go,” he said.

In the earlier discussion, Stewart paid tribute to Jamaican women whom he said could be relied on to speak up for what they believed in, irrespective of the cost.

Among the women in attendance were Thalia Lyn, CEO of Island Grill; Lorna Myers, CEO of Restaurants of Jamaica (Kentucky Fried Chicken); Audrey Marks, CEO of Paymaster; Becky Stockhausen, head of the American Chamber of Commerce; Minna Israel, managing director of RBTT; Yendi Phillips, Miss Jamaica (World) 2007; Naomi Francis of Nationwide Radio; Senator Dorothy Lightbourne, justice minister and attorney-general, and Pat Ramsay of the University of Technology (UTech).

The women commented on the dual citizenship issue and its repercussions for Jamaica, in light of the April 18 ruling that Vaz was not qualified to sit in the parliament, because of his allegiance to a foreign power, causing him to renounce his US citizenship; and Monday’s resignation by Walker who chose to do that over renunciation.

Hinchcliffe argued that Vaz had erred and should have mounted a challenge instead of readily giving up his status.

“I’m really resentful about the argument and I’m now seeing dual citizenship as a bad word. How can you be dual in one sense, and excluded in another sense,” she asked.

The women were almost unanimously opposed to the clause in the constitution and urged the powers that be to review it. One woman wondered what future could the country have under such a law, when so many young Jamaicans were holders of dual citizenship, whether it be for the US, Canada or elsewhere.

“My concern is in 10 years’ time; most of our kids will have (other) citizenships, what will happen to them?” RBTT’s Israel asked.

“What will happen to the university kids in 10 years?” CEO of Seaboard Jamaica, Corah-Ann Robertson-Sylvester also added. “They will be prevented from taking certain jobs, because of a contradictory law.”

The women also pointed to the irony of the constitution not affecting Green Card holders who have a residency stipulation (and must return to the US periodically); while it comes down hard on those who are sometimes merely passport holders who don’t have to satisfy residency requirements.

It was a point raised Tuesday by Vaz, who urged MPs with US Resident Alien or Green Cards to declare that too, saying that they had a moral obligation to do so.

“We don’t have the numbers of people with the skills to exclude those willing to serve, with an archaic legislation that’s an insult,” Hinchcliffe added. “That needs to be looked at.”

For her part, environmentalist Diana McCaulay sided with the constitution in as much as it allows for public servants not to hold dual citizenship. Citing her personal case where she is the only one in her family to hold only a Jamaican passport, she said the struggles, which include visa issues, makes one more appreciative of the need to be fully dedicated to the country to which one has allegiance.