Director of Elections, Danville Walker has denied suggestions that when he sent out press releases in August, he was trying to assist Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) candidate Daryl Vaz - now Member of Parliament - in his election campaign.

Walker said what prompted him to issue the first press release, telling electors to go out and vote, was that he saw a letter which stated that one of the candidates in the North East St. Ann constituency was a United States citizen.

The first press release was issued on August 16. Walker said he issued the second press release on August 31, after he saw the notice of disqualification which was signed by People's National Party candidate Abe Dabdoub. The notice stated that Vaz was a U.S. citizen and had a U.S. passport.

Giving evidence

Walker was giving evidence under cross-examination yesterday in the election petition which Dabdoub has brought against Vaz, who defeated Dabdoub. Dabdoub is contending that Vaz has dual citizenship and should have his MP status invalidated because he has pledged allegiance to a foreign power, which is in breach of the Constitution.

Vaz called Walker as a witness in the election petition in the Supreme Court.

On being asked by Dabdoub's lawyer, Gayle Nelson, if, when he applied for the job as director of elections, he disclosed that he was a U.S. citizen, Chief Justice Zaila McCalla said the question was irrelevant.

It was suggested to Walker that, because he was a U.S. citizen, he had an interest to serve in encouraging the acceptance of U.S. citizens in prominent government positions in the country.