7 News Belize

Schakron Loses Passport, Goes To US Embassy In Belmopan
posted (February 14, 2012)
And the other woman making headlines tonight is Yolanda Schakron. The PUP Candidate for Lake I has been thrust into the headlines after 7news broke the story that she is a Belizean who was Guatemalan born and holds US Citizen.

She gave a fiery public response yesterday and told the media that quote, "I have absolutely no problem in giving up my US Citizenship." End quote.

But her statement was short on details; it did not say when or how she would do it. And all her legal advisor Lisa Shoman would say is that the party is satisfied that there is no issue with Mrs. Schakron's eligibility for running.

But, unless she renounces, there is an issue. And how do we know that? Well in July of 2009, when the Barrow Administration tried to change the provision in the law that barred dual nationals from holding office, Shoman was among those who opposed it for the PUP. She spoke at the public consultation on the 7th Amendment to the constitution and gave a crystal clear explanation of the problem with dual nationals and elected office. We got this from our archive on July 23, 2009:

Lisa Shoman, Opposed (July 23, 2009)
"I think what you are hearing people here say is that if we give you the honour and the responsibility of serving in the National Assembly, be good enough to acknowledge that you have one master and that that master is Belize.

And I serve you notice, Mr. Chairman, pass this law, and I will line up to be first in line to challenge anybody who thinks they can get themselves elected and will not run afoul of the people of Belize."

Hon. Francis Fonseca, Committee Member (July 23, 2009)
"For persons who have made a decision that they want to serve at the highest levels of government, they want to serve in the legislature or perhaps become members of the executive of this country, they must have allegiance and obedience to one country, Belize. That must be absolutely clear. I think that is the point, which is the point. If somebody we want to widen the talent base; we want to widen the talent pool; we want Belizeans to come home from abroad and contribute, but if they come home - and there are many ways to contribute, please, politics is perhaps one of the most limiting ways to contribute to the growth and development of your country; you can do a lot but there are many, many other opportunities."

Again those remarks were from July of 2009 - we say that because Shoman seems to have gained some distance from them in her rather circumspect remarks about Schakron's dilemma yesterday - when she correctly pointed out that in 2003 the UDP had run Marilyn Williams - who - and we stand corrected on this one - is a US citizen. But since then there have been a number of test cases in the Caribbean - and some suggest that a dual national may not even be able to qualify for nomination.

We'll know that by Friday, but right now - as we understand it - Yolanda Schakron has another problem: she says someone stole her US passport! She called 7News Director Jules Vasquez last night after the news to tell him that her passport had been stolen. She suggested that since we have a copy of two pages - we may know who stole it; we confirmed to her that we most certainly do not - and did not get our image of the title page from any stolen version of her passport.

Still, the issue persists and multiple sources have confirmed to us that Schakron went to the US embassy in Belmopan today. Whether she went to renounce her citizenship or get a new passport is still not known. We tried very many times to reach her for comment and could not.

But we have spoken to two Belizeans who renounced their citizenship - and from what they've told us, it is not a one day process. Both told us they found the process frustrating and involved. It includes a 14 page questionnaire, and, among other things, taking an oath to renounce, which is not confirmed until a certificate of renunciation of citizenship is issued months later.

Of course, the elections are only weeks away, and nomination is days away, so it will be interesting to see how it all unfolds.

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