#BTColumn – Serve one master

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by this author are their own and do not represent the official position of the Barbados Today.

by Alex Currie

I wish to laud Mr Clarke for his decision to renounce his Canadian citizenship before becoming High Commissioner to Canada.

Some may say it is a matter of convenience but I, for one, see it as addressing this issue of duality when it comes to citizenship.

Nothing frustrates me more than the thousands of people who love Canada but refuse to a) become citizens while enjoying all the benefits in healthcare, standard of living, security etc., that come with just being a landed immigrant, b) who disrupt and demonstrate in support of regimes and issues in their homelands and c) don’t really cleanly identify as being a Canadian.

It is always Canada second as in Italian-Canadian, Portuguese-Canadian, Greece-Canadian and, of course, Bajan-Canadian.

A Canadian should be a Canadian first and foremost. If you are born here or come and are granted Canadian citizenship, then you should not be allowed dual cit–izenship and remain a Canadian.

I know many will disagree and I respect their right to do so, but to me you cannot serve two masters and do your best by them.

All the very best to Mr Clarke on his appointment to Ottawa.

Alex Currie
North Sannich BC