On Tuesday we reported that the People's United Party candidate for Lake Independence Yolanda Schakron was in Belmopan to report her US passport missing and to renounce her US citizenship in order for her to run for political office. While Schakron has told the media she has no problem in taking such action, confirmed today that Schakron has indeed started that process. Eric Heyden is the Public Affairs Officer at the US Embassy in Belize.
Eric Heyden, Public Affairs Officer, US Embassy, Belize
Yes, she is going through the process of renouncing her citizenship.
Jesse Mendoza, PlusTV Journalist
Heyden tells us that the United States takes very seriously the acquisition and renunciation of one's citizenship. He then explained to us what that process looks like.
Eric Heyden
First there is an initial interview and it is to my understanding that Ms. Schakron has completed that first step. The second step involves a formal ceremony; it is a private ceremony, not something that is opened to people or the media, but it is a formal meeting of renunciation and that also takes place here. The third step takes place back in Washington DC and it involves an affirmation, meaning that they look carefully at the nature of the renunciation and at the supporting documentation and anything else that we may provide which will give the flavour and substance of this person’s decision, because it is an important decision. The fourth and final step is if the affirmation review in Washington DC is complete and it has been approved, then a document is issued, which is called a certificate of loss of US nationality.
The question many have been asking is if Schakrons renunciation will be completed in time for her to participate in the upcoming general elections.
Jesse Mendoza
Do you know when this process will be completed? Tomorrow is Nomination Day and then March 7th is the General Elections. Do you believe that Ms. Schakron’s process will be completed by that time?
Eric Heyden
You gave me two different dates; as to the first one, no I don’t think the process will be completed by tomorrow. It is my understanding that this renunciation ceremony is scheduled for next week and I think the private ceremony is likely to take place on the 31st, which will not be by tomorrow. As to March 7th, I can say that I don’t know, so I don’t have a belief, but I can add to that that I think it is possible, it is not out of the question, if they proceed smoothly.
You may also remember that it was reported in the media earlier this week that Schakrons passport went missing. We asked Heyden if she has reported this to the embassy.
Eric Heyden
We don’t know whether her passport was stolen or not, but the answer to your question is yes, she has come to the embassy and there is a standard format to be completed. People often lose, misplace or have their passports stolen and she has started that process.
Jesse Mendoza
Is there any investigation on the embassy’s part as to where that passport went or anything of that sort?
Eric Heyden
No, we don’t undertake in the investigation, but we do want to make certain that there are not two passports valid and in existence for one person, I think for relatively obvious reasons. However, we don’t undertake in a further investigation. We believe the Belizean authorities will do that.
The decisive decision that Schakron has taken to participate in the upcoming elections can be view as highly sacrificial and Heyden tells us why.
Jesse Mendoza
Would Ms. Schakron be able to reapply to become a citizen of the United States again and if she is able to do that, how long and what would that process look like for her?
Eric Heyden
By reapply, do you mean, because of her lost passport or after she completes the renunciation process?
Jesse Mendoza
After she completes the renunciation process.
Eric Heyden
The renunciation process is irrevocable, so the answer is, to the best of my knowledge, that once this process is completed she may not. This is why we take it so seriously, if one renounces citizenship and the process comes to completion, it is irrevocable.
Meanwhile, the Press Office has issued a release saying that a formal objection to the nomination of Schakron has been delivered to the Returning Officer, by an elector of the Lake Independence Electoral Division. The objection is based on the ground that Ms. Schakron is disqualified from being nominated or elected as a member of the House of Representatives in view of section 58(1) (a) of the Belize Constitution which provides that ‘no person shall be qualified to be elected as a member of the House of Representatives who is, by virtue of his own act, under any acknowledgement of allegiance, obedience or adherence to a foreign power or State.’