Dual citizenship law passed

 COUNTRIES that recognise Papua New Guinea’s dual citizenship will be accorded the same privilege on a reciprocal basis, Justice Minister and Attorney-General Kerenga Kua said in parliament yesterday. 

He said it would operate as a control mechanism to ensure unnecessary people did not flood the country from all over the world.

Kua’s comments follows the proposed law on dual citizenship raised in parliament last year. 

He said there had been concerns on whether the proposed law would open the flood gates, allowing foreigners to come into the country. 

“I want to assure the people of this country that this will not be the case,” he said.

“There is a need for this system to operate on a reciprocal basis only so those countries that will not give us a reciprocal recognition of our citizenship will not be accorded this privilege.

“Nearly 40 years on and the issue has become necessary, the issue has forced itself onto our laps, and the leadership of this country has to make some policy determination whether to entertain the issue of dual citizenship in this country.”

Kua made a presentation on the proposed law to alter the Constitution on the constitutional amendment (Citizenship) Law 2013. 

It was passed 90 votes to 0. 

Kua said there was overwhelming support from parliament and the public to codify certain provisions in the Constitution that would enable this question to be processed and people who are caught in that situation to be given an opportunity to process their claims for dual citizenship and to create new activities and opportunities. 

“I’m gratified by the report by the parliamentary committee that’s fully supportive of this endeavour.

“And I note their three recommendations – firstly, supporting the proposal for the amendment to take place; secondly, for clear policy guidelines to be established on a criteria; and thirdly, for defining a more clear role for the citizenship advisory committee in respect of dual citizenship issues.”