…cites dual citizenship status, health reasons

Businessman Nigel Hinds of the Change Guyana political body has withdrawn from the 2020 elections campaign as that party’s prime ministerial  candidate over his dual citizenship status.

Hinds, who is a United States citizen, said in a statement on Sunday that he was withdrawing from the campaign over his dual  citizenship status as well as for health reasons.

“I was hoping that subsequent diagnostic tests would be favourable. However, the prognosis requires further medical intervention that is best done in the United States, where I’m also a citizen,” the businessman said.

Guyana’s Constitution under Article 155 does not allow a dual citizen to be elected as a member of the National Assembly, he quoted in a statement.

Hinds said he remains  committed to the party and its presidential candidate Robert Badal as the March  2020 General and Regional Elections loom.

“As the Co-founder and Chairman of Change Guyana, I will continue to do my utmost to ensure we keep working to unite Guyana towards a multiethnic, multicultural and multiracial society that focuses on inclusive and accelerated economic and social development across our beautiful country,” he said.

Change Guyana is one of several small parties which have made the final cut to contest what many term ‘the mother of all elections ‘ this year.

Questions regarding the dual citizenship status of another small party leader, Lenox Shuman of the Liberty and Justice Party, remain in the public domain.

Shuman told reporters on Nomination Day that he has already taken the necessary steps regarding his Canadian citizenship status but many have noted that his answers were vague.

The citizenship status of politicians vying for political office here became a front burner issue following court rulings tied to the December 2018 no confidence motion.

Several officials of the APNU+AFC government subsequently resigned as Members of Parliament citing their dual citizenship status.