Daraine Luton, Staff Reporter

THE NUMBER of constitutional motions surrounding the eligibility of Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Members of Parliament to sit in the House of Representatives has risen to four, the latest addition being Michael Stern.

Donald Buchanan, general secretary of the People's National Party (PNP), confirmed yesterday that beaten PNP candidate Richard Azan has filed a motion challenging the eligibility of Mr. Stern to sit in Parliament.

Mr. Stern, who left the National Democratic Movement (NDM) to join the JLP, had defeated Mr. Azan by 933 votes to win the North West Clarendon seat in the September 3 general election.

Abe Dabdoub, a former JLP MP and PNP candidate who lost West Portland to the JLP's Daryl Vaz, was the first to race to court to challenge the eligibility of his opponent.

Mention today

Even before the national poll, Mr. Dabdoub charged that Mr. Vaz had not been properly nominated and that he was the holder of a United States passport. This matter comes up for mention today.

Challenges have also been made against Shahine Robinson, MP for North East St. Ann, and Gregory Mair, MP for North East St. Catherine.

The matter against Mr. Mair, which was brought by defeated PNP candidate, Phyllis Mitchell, also comes up for mention today.

The motions are all based on claims that the four JLP MPs have pledged or sworn allegiance or obedience to foreign powers and, under the Constitution, should be disqualified from sitting in Parliament.

daraine.luton@gleanerjm.com