Woman Impacted By Citizenship Ruling Speaks Out

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NASSAU, BAHAMAS – We now bring you the story of a young woman whose life has been affected by the controversial citizenship issue where Bahamian men were unable to pass on citizenship to their children, born out of wedlock to foreign women.

After years of trying to get Bahamian citizenship she’s telling her story and is celebrating the recent ruling by the Privy Council to uphold the decision of the Court of Appeal.

Twenty-one-year-old Thajay Smith was born and raised in The Bahamas, her mother, a foreign woman and her father who has now passed away was a Bahamian.

She says for years her parents have been trying to obtain her Bahamian citizenship but there was always an issue.

She says when traveling into the country she would have to travel with her birth certificate, her father’s birth certificate, her father’s death certificate as well as her certification of identity book.

She would also be questioned heavily.

Smith says the ruling by the privy council that all children born out of wedlock to foreign women and Bahamian men, are citizens at birth brings years of pain to an end for her and her family.