Dear Editor,
In the government-owned and controlled newspaper of December 4, Mr Jagdeo was reported as making the astonishing statement that Chinese nationals would be given 3-year work permits and receive automatic citizenship after 7 years.
This pronouncement is astonishing and unbelievable because 1) such matters of citizenship are reciprocal and the Government of China must give Guyanese citizens the same facility. President Jagdeo has not said one word about the Government of China reciprocating in the same way for Guyanese citizens and I can assure Mr Jagdeo that the Govern-ment of China would do nothing of the kind and he would receive a nasty rebuff.
Indeed, when Hong Kong was handed over to China by Britain, it was only Chinese by race who were given citizenship, and Hong Kong people of non-Chinese race, mainly Europeans and Indians, were debarred from holding Chinese citizenship. We are awaiting Mr Jagdeo’s imminent announcement of reciprocity.
2), the citizenship laws are part of the constitution and cannot be changed or tampered with willy-nilly by any President or other officials.
3) Caricom is moving towards having a common nationality and if Guyanese officials tamper with the citizenship laws without other Caricom members agreeing, it will set back the process and cause real Guyanese citizens difficulties in free movement. Barbados is bad, but what is to follow could be worse.
(4) President Jagdeo made the astonishing admission that he spoke with the President of Suriname about Chinese visa problems there. Mr Jagdeo must understand that it is the Chinese Ambassador who must make such representations. For a President to take on a foreign ambassador’s role diminishes the status of the office and is of questionable protocol.
(5) Lastly, President Jagdeo made the admission that some Chinese pay bribes to Guyanese officials to extend work permits. He does not talk about prosecuting them and the corrupt officials, he talks about changing the citizenship laws. What President Jagdeo should have promised is to deal with any corruption by Guyanese officials.
Before making such rash statements, he should have sought advice from the few capable senior foreign service officers (including retired ones) who are still here.
Would the opposition parties not make any comment?
Yours faithfully,
P Ramlall
