According to The Gleaner, Opposition Leader and People’s National Party (PNP) president Mark Golding has allegedly provided documents to confirm his renunciation of British citizenship. The Gleaner reports that Golding shared what he claims to be official documentation from the United Kingdom Home Office, including a cover letter and a declaration of renunciation, purportedly showing that he ceased to be a British citizen on August 5, 2024.
Golding, who reportedly obtained British citizenship by descent through his father, Sir John Golding, had long faced questions about his allegiance. The letter, which The Gleaner attributes to the UK Home Office and is said to be addressed to Golding, allegedly states:
“I’m writing to inform you that the above-named is now registered as having renounced British citizenship. Endorsed is the declaration of renunciation bearing a stamp of registration. This confirms the date on which the applicant ceased to be a British citizen under section 12(1) of the British Nationality Act of 1981.”
The letter also reportedly notes that any British travel documents he held should be returned and that his renunciation affects his right to reside in the United Kingdom. The document is said to be signed by Lesley Davis of the UK Home Office.
Political pressure and demands for proof
Golding’s disclosure comes in response to persistent challenges from Cabinet Minister Daryl Vaz, who has repeatedly demanded proof of his renunciation.
“Mark Golding has shown zero evidence of the renunciation of his UK citizenship. Now that he has made such statements in Parliament, we again ask Mark Golding to present evidence,” Vaz posted on X on March 18.
Vaz, the minister of science, energy, telecommunications, and transport, has also criticized Golding’s national identity, referencing his reading of Jamaica’s national song during his Budget Debate speech.
Vaz himself has faced similar scrutiny in the past. He was disqualified from Parliament in 2007 due to his dual U.S. and Jamaican citizenship but later renounced his U.S. citizenship and won a court-ordered by-election in 2009. Alongside St Catherine South Western MP Everald Warmington, Vaz has been among those leading the charge against Golding’s suitability for prime ministerial candidacy. Warmington has even gone as far as suggesting that Golding’s race disqualifies him.
Golding had first announced in June 2024 that he would begin the renunciation process, following confirmation of his UK citizenship the previous month. This decision came amid growing public discourse about whether political leaders should hold dual nationality.
He had previously argued that holding British citizenship was not illegal under the Jamaican Constitution, as Commonwealth citizens are permitted to sit in Parliament. However, he acknowledged that public sentiment played a role in his decision to renounce.
In May 2024, government Minister Matthew Samuda announced that he had also begun the process of renouncing his British citizenship, which he acquired at birth.
