The dual citizenship debate has picked up again with developments in Jamaica

The island's director of elections Danville Walker, who holds both US and foreign citizenship, resigned on Monday.

Last month the Jamaica's chief justice ruled that government MP Daryl Vaz was not constitutionally qualified to sit in parliament, because he holds a US passport.

Earlier this week government Mr Vaz renounced his US citizenship, and he called on both government and opposition MPs to declare their loyalties.

In some countries the constitution allows nationals who are also citizens of the Commonwealth country to sit in parliament.

The now former, Jamaica Supervisor of Elections Danville says the law should apply to all foreign countries.

But is it time for constitutional amendments to allow holders of foreign passports to serve in public office?

	Should MPs salute more than one flag?

Disadvantage

Jamaican businesswoman Thalia Lyn, feels the law places nationals overseas at a disadvantage.

She told BBC Caribbean that it is only discouraging those who would like to return home to serve their country.

“A lot of them go abroad because they want to make money and then come back here and pick up from where they’ve left off.

“And to say to them that if you want to make a contribution to your country it’s not allowed and you would then have to disclaim the country where you might have made your fortune, I don’t think that’s quite right.”

Historical accident?

Retired judge Don Mitchell agrees.

He branded the constitutional provision an historical accident, and a ludicrous state of affairs that should be changed.

An historical accident, and a ludicrous state of affairs   Retired judge Justice Don Mitchell

Justice Mitchell told BBC Caribbean that the matter should be taken up at a Caricom level.

“What Caricom can do is raise at heads of government level and attorneys general level, where Caricom is helping set the agendas, it can contribute by helping to get a harmonised approach to be taken throughout the region.

“But, the actual legislation will be in terms of amendment of existing constitutions.”

Respect the constitutions

But there are opposing views.

One of them is from University of the West Indies academic Neville Duncan.

He recently told BBC Caribbean that Caribbean constitutions should be respected.

Dr Duncan suggested that in cases where MPs with dual citizenship are in breach of their country's constitution, they should be asked to renounce the acquired citizenship.

Permit dual citizenship with other requirements   Dr Neville Duncan

But he wants governments to go further "to consider a change to the constitution, to permit dual citizenship with other requirements".

Professor Duncan says these should include the potential candidate living in the country continuously for two years before be allowed to contest a parliamentary election.

MPs in Grenada, St Kitts, Jamaica Haiti and Trinidad and Tobago have also been caught up in the dual citizenship row.