Opposition Leader Mark Golding says while he believes calls for him to renounce his British citizenship are ‘unreasonable’ he is prepared to consider the position.

He made this disclosure while speaking during a local television interview on Tuesday, May 21.

This follows a revelation by Golding that he remains a British citizen amid public discourse in recent days. The governing Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) has been loudest in demands for Golding to renounce his British citizenship.

However, Golding says the law does not require him to relinquish his citizenship to serve in Parliament.

“I have never applied for British citizenship; I didn’t sign any application form. I got a passport when I was a little child from my dad. Over the years, I have continued to have it, but I don’t use it now, and for me, it was a travel document that was convenient and didn’t require me to give it up because I haven’t been using it for many years. The question of renouncing that status is something that I have never considered before, and to think about it, my initial position on is that is unreasonable, but given the current constitution that we have, but it is something that I am prepared to consider going forward,” Golding said.

“I am not intending to renew my UK passport, it expires this year, I don’t use it, I haven’t been using it for a long time and I have no need for it and I plan to give it up so that is where I stand on that issue,” Golding added.

Meanwhile, Golding says he is willing to comply with the stipulations of the constitution on dual citizenship if it is amended.

The opposition leader says the debate surrounding his dual citizenship is a mere distraction.

“This kind of firestone that has risen over the last two days, I see as a distraction from the issues that are confronting the country. The issues relating to the constitution reform process which has been a process, which many people feel has not been inclusive, has not been participatory, and has left a lot of people feeling frustrated, plus the constant issues facing Jamaicans-crime rate and the lack of hope in our people. It is not surprising to me that our political competitors are seeking to generate traction surrounding these issues and I think that’s what this about,” Golding said.

He described calls to denounce his citizenship as a personal attack on him.

“There are number of people in Parliament who are Commonwealth citizens, I am not the only one. So I don’t see why this is a big issue, but it is obviously being used as a way to attack me personally,” he said.