27 July, 2010 - Published 15:13 GMT

Green card controversy

The dual citizenship issue has taken centre stage again in St Kitts and Nevis, with politicians and lawyers making their case in and out of court.

A former government minister, Cedric Liburd, claims that his rival, Eugene Hamilton should have been disqualified from the last election in January, because he holds a green card.

While that does not make him a US citizen, Mr Liburd says that Mr Hamilton has divided loyalties.

He contends that Mr Hamilton is in allegiance to a foreign power, something that is prohibited by the constitution of St Kitts and Nevis.

His lawyers have been arguing in court that green card holder Hamilton is not a fully committed legislator:

"You cannot have one foot in St Kitts and Nevis and one foot in the United States of America by applying for and accepting permanent residence in the United States," Mr Liburd's lawyer Henry Browne argues.

However, Mr Hamilton says the case is a frivolous one intended to harass him.

"The Labour Party cannot get over the fact that I've won my seat, it's as simple as that," he has been telling local media.

It is a position shared by his party, the Peoples Action Movement (PAM).

PAM said in a statement that a petition hearing on the matter on Friday 23 July "clearly demonstrated that Mr Hamilton is not a US citizen and that his green card status does not disqualify him from being nominated as a candidate and elected to parliament".

The matter is being determined in the courts of the land.

BBC Caribbean's Clive Bacchus has been talking to Marie-Claire Williams about the case.