Robinson throws in the towel
Former North East St. Ann MP, Shahine Robinson. (Gleaner Company photo)
Jamaica Labour Party Member of Parliament for North-East St. Ann, Shahine Robinson, is reportedly ending her fight against an election petition brought against her, by the People's National Party's Manley Bowen.
Thursday, at her pre-trial hearing in the case, Mrs. Robinson told the Supreme Court, that she no longer intends to oppose the petition.
Unfit MP
Supreme Court Judge, Roy Jones, has given her until Friday, to file the notice of her intent, with the registrar of the Supreme Court.
As soon as she files the notice, she will be out of Parliament.
Pundits say any such concession on the part of the MP is tantamount to an admission that she is unfit to sit as MP.
Former People's National Party Member of Parliament, Manley Bowen had contended that Mrs. Robinson was not eligible to remain in Parliament, because she was an American citizen, at the time of her nomination, ahead of the September 2007 General Election.
Bombshell evidence
RJR News reported, Wednesday, that lawyers representing Manley Bowen, the man challenging her right to remain in the seat, say they have unearthed evidence showing that she is a US citizen.
The lawyers filed the new information before the Supreme Court, last week, and have asked Mrs. Robinson and her attorneys to respond.
Mr. Bowen's attorney, Raymond Clough, told RJR News they have found information that Mrs. Robinson holds a US alien registration card; a certificate of naturalisation; and that she had sworn allegiance to the US government in 2006.
When contacted, Manley Bowen's attorneys said they were constrained from comment due to an agreement to allow Mrs. Robinson to speak publicly on the matter.
Shahine silent
However, the troubled Member of Parliament Shahine Robinson says she is withholding public comments on the latest developments.
When contacted on Thursday afternoon, moments after news emerged that she will not be contesting the case, the third term MP told RJR News that she is reserving comment on the matter.
Mrs. Robinson says the matter will be handled by her attorneys and as such she will be allowing them to respond.
Efforts to contact her lead attorney, Nesta Claire-Smith, were unsuccessful up to news time.
Attorney-at-law Ransford Braham, who is also a member of the MP's legal team, told our new centre that he was neither commenting on nor off the record on the matter.
Former North East St. Ann MP, Shahine Robinson. (Gleaner Company photo)
Jamaica Labour Party Member of Parliament for North-East St. Ann, Shahine Robinson, is reportedly ending her fight against an election petition brought against her, by the People's National Party's Manley Bowen.
Thursday, at her pre-trial hearing in the case, Mrs. Robinson told the Supreme Court, that she no longer intends to oppose the petition.
Unfit MP
Supreme Court Judge, Roy Jones, has given her until Friday, to file the notice of her intent, with the registrar of the Supreme Court.
As soon as she files the notice, she will be out of Parliament.
Pundits say any such concession on the part of the MP is tantamount to an admission that she is unfit to sit as MP.
Former People's National Party Member of Parliament, Manley Bowen had contended that Mrs. Robinson was not eligible to remain in Parliament, because she was an American citizen, at the time of her nomination, ahead of the September 2007 General Election.
Bombshell evidence
RJR News reported, Wednesday, that lawyers representing Manley Bowen, the man challenging her right to remain in the seat, say they have unearthed evidence showing that she is a US citizen.
The lawyers filed the new information before the Supreme Court, last week, and have asked Mrs. Robinson and her attorneys to respond.
Mr. Bowen's attorney, Raymond Clough, told RJR News they have found information that Mrs. Robinson holds a US alien registration card; a certificate of naturalisation; and that she had sworn allegiance to the US government in 2006.
When contacted, Manley Bowen's attorneys said they were constrained from comment due to an agreement to allow Mrs. Robinson to speak publicly on the matter.
Shahine silent
However, the troubled Member of Parliament Shahine Robinson says she is withholding public comments on the latest developments.
When contacted on Thursday afternoon, moments after news emerged that she will not be contesting the case, the third term MP told RJR News that she is reserving comment on the matter.
Mrs. Robinson says the matter will be handled by her attorneys and as such she will be allowing them to respond.
Efforts to contact her lead attorney, Nesta Claire-Smith, were unsuccessful up to news time.
Attorney-at-law Ransford Braham, who is also a member of the MP's legal team, told our new centre that he was neither commenting on nor off the record on the matter.
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