Daryl Vaz, the state minister in charge of special projects and Member of Parliament for Western Portland, is to face the court on February 18, for breaches of the Public Order Act, and the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) Act.

The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) handed down the ruling earlier this week after several weeks of investigation. It followed an incident on December 5 last year, in which Vaz allegedly used abusive language to Deputy Superintendent of Police Cornell Messam.

DSP Messam told The Gleaner yesterday that the DPP had investigated the matter thoroughly, before making a ruling. He noted that the ruling was in keeping with the fact that no one is above the law, and that law and order will be maintained throughout the parish at all cost.

Vaz, who also spoke to The Gleaner yesterday, said that he was served a summons regarding the ruling and the court date while in Parliament on Tuesday. Vaz had earlier challenged the evidence given by DSP Messam, and said that he was wrongly accused by the police and the military of holding a public meeting in Buff Bay, Portland, on the night the Jamaica Labour Party won the Local Government Elections.