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The issue of Director of Elections Danville Walker's dual citizenship is among several matters down for discussion at the first meeting of the Electoral Commission of Jamaica (ECJ).
The Commission's Chairman, Professor Errol Miller, says members will undertake a careful examination of the recent developments involving Mr. Walker.
However Professor Miller says the issue is not being treated as a crisis.
"We have learnt of the matter in the same way everybody has learnt of it and the matter will be taken up at the meeting on the 16th January. We will address it, look at it and examine it, we see no emergency in the matter we will deal with it in a careful manner and we will look at all the implications and so on but we are not going to deal with it on a crisis basis that's for sure," said Prodessor Miller.
Last week lawyers representing People's National Party (PNP) candidate for Western Portland, Abe Dabdoub, questioned Mr. Walker's eligibility for the post.
Lead attorney Gayle Nelson argued that under Section Three of the Electoral Commission (Interim) Act of 2006, Mr. Walker should be disqualified from holding the post of Director of Elections.
The Section notes that a person will be disqualified from holding the post if that person is not a citizen of Jamaica, not resident in Jamaica, or by his own act, has acknowledged allegiance, obedience or adherence to a foreign power or state.
The matter was heard during the election petition brought by Mr. Dabdoub against Member of Parliament Daryl Vaz.
In the meantime, United States based attorney-at-law George Cromarko, who represents parliamentarian Daryl Vaz, is now giving testimony in the Supreme Court.
This as the High Court continues its hearing into the election petition filed by defeated PNP candidate, Abe Dabdoub.
Mr. Dabdoub wants the court to remove Mr. Vaz, who represents West Portland in the House of Parliament, claiming he holds dual citizenship.
Jamaica's constitution bars persons who pledge allegiance to another country from holding political office.
Last month lawyers representing Mr. Dabdoub submitted documents which they claim show that Mr. Vaz had been travelling as an American citizen even after he was sworn in as a government minister.
The Commission's Chairman, Professor Errol Miller, says members will undertake a careful examination of the recent developments involving Mr. Walker.
However Professor Miller says the issue is not being treated as a crisis.
"We have learnt of the matter in the same way everybody has learnt of it and the matter will be taken up at the meeting on the 16th January. We will address it, look at it and examine it, we see no emergency in the matter we will deal with it in a careful manner and we will look at all the implications and so on but we are not going to deal with it on a crisis basis that's for sure," said Prodessor Miller.
Last week lawyers representing People's National Party (PNP) candidate for Western Portland, Abe Dabdoub, questioned Mr. Walker's eligibility for the post.
Lead attorney Gayle Nelson argued that under Section Three of the Electoral Commission (Interim) Act of 2006, Mr. Walker should be disqualified from holding the post of Director of Elections.
The Section notes that a person will be disqualified from holding the post if that person is not a citizen of Jamaica, not resident in Jamaica, or by his own act, has acknowledged allegiance, obedience or adherence to a foreign power or state.
The matter was heard during the election petition brought by Mr. Dabdoub against Member of Parliament Daryl Vaz.
In the meantime, United States based attorney-at-law George Cromarko, who represents parliamentarian Daryl Vaz, is now giving testimony in the Supreme Court.
This as the High Court continues its hearing into the election petition filed by defeated PNP candidate, Abe Dabdoub.
Mr. Dabdoub wants the court to remove Mr. Vaz, who represents West Portland in the House of Parliament, claiming he holds dual citizenship.
Jamaica's constitution bars persons who pledge allegiance to another country from holding political office.
Last month lawyers representing Mr. Dabdoub submitted documents which they claim show that Mr. Vaz had been travelling as an American citizen even after he was sworn in as a government minister.
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