Basseterre, St.Kitts (June 3rd 2010):- "I am not, nor have ever been an American citizen," said Peoples Action Movement MP Hon. Eugene Hamilton in light of a recent press release issued by the CUOPM, the Communications unit of the Prime Minister of St.Kitts-Nevis, suggesting that Hamilton is a U.S. citizen and as such is in violation of the Constitution."I in fact am the holder of a Permanent Residency Card (Green Card) since 2003. A fact which I have never denied. I have never pledged allegiance to any other country and I am NOT a citizen of any other country but the federation of St.Kitts-Nevis," Hamilton continued.
Defeated labor candidate for constituency#8 Cedric Liburd filed a petition claiming that Hamilton was ineligible for election on nomination day January 15th and further asking the court to declare his election null and void and of no legal effect.
Hamilton, The constituency #8 representative, filed court documents disclosing his United States Permanent Residence(Green Card) status since May 11th 2010. According to Hamilton's lawyers there was absolutely no obligation by their client to present his Permanent Residence Card. However both Hamilton and his lawyers felt that in an effort to save the court some time and expedite the matter in addition to their confidence that the matter is little more than a frivolous and vexatious matter, it was presented. Hamilton suggested that the lawyers of his defeated opponent Cedric Liburd were surprised by his action to confirm that he never traveled on a foreign document.
"They must have been quite surprised over the last few weeks, because I filed a document in the court on May 11th, 2010 and invited them to comply with the court order to take a look at the said documents on May 13th 2010," said Hamilton. "We are now in the month of June and to date they have yet to inspect the documents," Hamilton continued.
The People's Action Movement MP stated that he was accused by Cedric Labored and the Labor Party of holding a US Passport. However neither Cedric Liburd nor his legal team have presented any facts to support the allegation.
"In the original petition they claim that I have a passport....they claim that I have all kinda things issued by the US Government . To this day I have gone and put mine at the court and they have yet to show what documents they say I have," said Hamilton. "So to me they are just blowing hot air. They are blowing smoke in the wind because I have never hidden the fact that I have a Green Card. But I am going to state categorically that I have never had allegiance, obedience or adherence to any foreign power or state. I still maintain that." Hamilton continued.
Hamilton further stated that having a Permanent Resident card (Green Card) does not make the holder obedient to the United States, neither do they have a US Passport.
"Having a Green Card does not make me obedient or have any allegiance or adherence to the United States. I do not have a US Passport and I have never had one."
Hamilton re-iterated his earlier position when the petition was first filed and stated emphatically that in his view the petition can only be described as harassment.
"I want to re-iterate my earlier sentiments regarding this whole issue and that is to say that I find this claim and the challenge brought by my defeated opponent Mr. Cedric Liburd and the Labour party frivolous, vexatious and ridiculous and is simply a further attempt to continue the relentless smear campaign that was unleashed on me in the lead-up to the elections," said Hamilton. "Cedric Liburd and the Labour party orchestrated the most elaborate and vicious smear campaign ever to be waged against any political candidate in St.Kitts-Nevis and despite their absolute best efforts it did not work as I was duly elected on Jan 25th. However it seems that their failure to dirty my name has only served to motivate them to try in some way to bring me down so they are now resorting to what I can only describe as harassment with this latest ridiculous and frivolous claim of dual-citizenship," Hamilton continued.
" I want to reiterate that I am NOT A U.S. CITIZEN and I have never lived in the U.S. or paid taxes in the U.S. and that is why I can only describe the challenge as harassment," said Hamilton. "When all is said and done I hope that Mr. Liburd and the Labour Party are prosecuted , reprimanded or sanctioned to the nth degree by the Court for wasting my time and the time of the Courts over this ridiculous and frivolous suit," Hamilton continued.
Hearing of the case is set for July 26th-28th, 2010. Only Hon. Hamilton has presented any kind of evidence in the case, namely his Permanent Residence Card(Green Card). The lawyers of Cedric Liburd has failed to present any supporting evidence in their case.