Danville vs Dabdoub - EOJ boss, PNP candidate square off outside court

Barbara Gayle, Staff Reporter

Director of Elections Danville Walker. - File

After having his feathers ruffled while under cross-examination, Director of Elections Danville Walker lost his cool yesterday and had to be restrained by a female lawyer, as he approached People's National Party (PNP) candidate Abe Dabdoub in a threatening manner outside a courtroom at the Supreme Court in Kingston.

Walker had engaged Dabdoub outside the courtroom in a short, heated conversation, in which the director of elections used expletives to Dabdoub.

Giving evidence

The EOJ boss was giving evidence in the election petition which Dabdoub brought against Daryl Vaz, the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Member of Parliament for West Portland, challenging his eligibility as MP.

Dabdoub's lawyer, Gayle Nelson, had questioned Walker about a telephone conversation that he had with Dabdoub about notices of disqualification, which were being circulated in west Portland prior to the September 3 general election.

On leaving the courtroom during the luncheon adjournment, Walker remarked that Dabdoub should play the tape if he had one. Dabdoub remarked then that Walker should stop politicising his office and commented further that Walker had become political.

Walker, with his fist clenched, engaged Dabdoub in a conversation which became heated and ended only when a female lawyer held Walker's hand and led him away.

Walker who was called as a witness by Vaz, said it was still his view that all the candidates in the September 3 general election were properly nominated. He was testifying before Chief Justice Zaila McCalla.

Walker said that he (Walker) was not on the voters list. He also said under cross-examination that he is an American citizen.

Dabdoub ... People's National Party candidate. - File

Dabdoub is contending that Vaz has dual citizenship and therefore cannot be a MP because he has pledged allegiance to a foreign power which is in breach of the Constitution.

Gayle Nelson questioned Walker at length about two press releases he issued in August telling electors to go out and vote because all the candidates were properly nominated.

Walker on being examined by Vaz's lawyer Ransford Braham said the press releases created a bit of a stir and were the talk of the talk shows and a number of newspaper articles. He said the press releases stated that people were seeking to mislead electors that if they voted for certain candidates their votes would be wasted.

Mr. Walker said he saw a document which was signed by one of the candidates and that document led electors into believing that the candidates were already disqualified. He said he felt it necessary to issue another statement on August 31. He said the second statement was to reiterate the position stated earlier in his press release of August 16 and make reference to the section in the Electoral Law that referred to publishing false statements.

Cross-examined further Walker said when he received a notice of disqualification he spoke to Dabdoub about it and Dabdoub told him that he had signed the notice. Questioned if he had told Dabdoub that he was trying to fool up little black people by putting out the notices of disqualification, Walker said it was to Mr. Nelson he had made the statement. He admitted it was an unfortunate remark but it was needed at the time.

barbara.gayle@gleanerjm.com