Maryland County Senator H. Dan Morias is recommending the inclusion of Article 28 of the Liberian Constitution to form part of prepositions for the proposed referendum on the dual citizenship bill.
Article 28 states that: “Any person, at least one of whose parents was a citizen of Liberia at the time of the Person’s birth, shall be a citizen of Liberia; provided that any such person shall upon reaching maturity renounce any other citizenship acquired by virtue of one parent being a citizen of another country.
No citizen of the Republic shall be deprived of citizenship or nationality except as provided by law; and no person shall be denied the right to change citizenship or nationality.”
In a letter, Senator Morias told his colleagues that the word ‘renounce’ is clear and does not need any interpretation because by purpose and intent the Article forbids the holding of Liberian citizenship while holding on to one of another country.
Senator Morias said the 21st Liberia should permit dual citizenship, which he thinks, should be considered in some form by metes and bounds there is a need to first amend Article 28 to allow the exercise to be discussed comprehensively and considered.
The Maryland Senator said when amended, he wants Article 28 to be read as “Any person, at least one of whose parent is a citizen of Liberia at the time of the person’s birth shall remain a citizen of Liberia.
Any such person shall upon reaching maturity continue to be citizen of Liberia”.
According to him, citizenship by birth shall remain to a right and no citizen of Liberia shall be deprived of citizenship or nationality except as provided by law; and no person shall be denied the right to change citizenship or nationality.
“This law is applicable to only citizens by birth and naturalized citizens of Negro decent of Liberia.
Honorable Pro-tempore and distinguished colleagues, I am herewith submitting a draft act called ‘The Dual Citizen and Nationality Law of 2019 for debate,” Senator Morias said.
The Senate’s committee on judiciary was mandated by plenary to review the communication and report to plenary within one week.
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