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Now Vaz files appeal in dual citizenship saga
Now Vaz files appeal in dual citizenship saga
PAUL HENRY, Observer staff reporter editorial@jamaicaobserver.com
Friday, May 16, 2008
JUNIOR minister Daryl Vaz yesterday filed an appeal against Chief Justice Zaila McCalla's decision to disqualify him as member of parliament for the West Portland constituency last month.
According to documents filed in the Court of Appeal, Vaz is contending that Justice McCalla erred in ruling that his applying for and travelling on his US passport was reason for disqualification, among other things.
Vaz, who has harshly criticised the People's National Party's Abe Dabdoub for continuing legal actions to take the seat instead of facing a court-ordered by-election, said that his decision to file the appeal was strategic.
He told the Observer that his appeal would allow him to contest, on Tuesday, Dabdoub's expected request for an extension of the original 42-day stay of execution granted by the chief justice, pending Dabdoub's appeal. He said, too, that his filing for an appeal would allow him to also apply for a stay of the disqualification order, pending his own appeal, so that he could remain the representative of West Portland.
"My action is as a result of his [Dabdoub's] action," said Vaz. "I have no further interest in court action. My action is to protect the constituency of West Portland because if Dabdoub is successful in obtaining an extension of the [stay] the constituency would be without a representative in Parliament until his appeal is heard. and this could take a long time."
"If I'm successful [in contesting Dabdoub's stay of execution] then there would be no further court action, as a by-election would have to be held," Vaz added.
Vaz's appeal comes a day after Dabdoub on Wednesday filed his appeal against Justice McCalla's ruling on April 11 in which she refused to hand him the constituency following Vaz's disqualification.
Dabdoub, contending that Vaz was not qualified to sit as a member of the House of Representative because of his allegiance to the US, brought action in the Supreme Court following his defeat by Vaz during last September's general election.
PAUL HENRY, Observer staff reporter editorial@jamaicaobserver.com
Friday, May 16, 2008
JUNIOR minister Daryl Vaz yesterday filed an appeal against Chief Justice Zaila McCalla's decision to disqualify him as member of parliament for the West Portland constituency last month.
According to documents filed in the Court of Appeal, Vaz is contending that Justice McCalla erred in ruling that his applying for and travelling on his US passport was reason for disqualification, among other things.
Vaz, who has harshly criticised the People's National Party's Abe Dabdoub for continuing legal actions to take the seat instead of facing a court-ordered by-election, said that his decision to file the appeal was strategic.
He told the Observer that his appeal would allow him to contest, on Tuesday, Dabdoub's expected request for an extension of the original 42-day stay of execution granted by the chief justice, pending Dabdoub's appeal. He said, too, that his filing for an appeal would allow him to also apply for a stay of the disqualification order, pending his own appeal, so that he could remain the representative of West Portland.
"My action is as a result of his [Dabdoub's] action," said Vaz. "I have no further interest in court action. My action is to protect the constituency of West Portland because if Dabdoub is successful in obtaining an extension of the [stay] the constituency would be without a representative in Parliament until his appeal is heard. and this could take a long time."
"If I'm successful [in contesting Dabdoub's stay of execution] then there would be no further court action, as a by-election would have to be held," Vaz added.
Vaz's appeal comes a day after Dabdoub on Wednesday filed his appeal against Justice McCalla's ruling on April 11 in which she refused to hand him the constituency following Vaz's disqualification.
Dabdoub, contending that Vaz was not qualified to sit as a member of the House of Representative because of his allegiance to the US, brought action in the Supreme Court following his defeat by Vaz during last September's general election.
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