Chief Justice Zaila McCalla's ruling yesterday in the dual citizenship case has raised questions as to what will be the fate of other members of parliament who are in a situation similar to that of Member of Parliament (MP) Daryl Vaz.So far, three election petitions involving dual citizenship are pending in the courts.
Attorney-at-law Bert Samuels says yesterday's ruling in the Vaz/Dabdoub case could have implications for those cases.
"The prime minister should take the high ground and treat today's (yesterday's) judgement as declaratory of the law in regard to the interpretation of the Constitution," he said. Samuels further said the prime minister should have the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) members of parliament in question resign, renounce their citizenship and hold by-elections in their constituencies.
"This is the simple way out," he asserted.
DUAL CITIZENSHIP CASE FILES
Norman Washington Manley Bowen, former People's National Party (PNP) MP and an elector in North East St Ann have filed a suit in the Supreme Court contending that the JLP MP for the constituency, Shahine Robinson, has US citizenship. He wants Oswest Senior-Smith, the PNP candidate to be declared as the MP.
PNP candidate for North East St Catherine, Phyllis Mitchell, filed an election petition in the Supreme Court on October 1, 2007, contending that the JLP MP Gregory Mair has Venezuelan citizenship.
PNP candidate for North West Clarendon, Richard Azan, filed a petition against JLP MP Michael Stern contending that Stern has dual citizenship.
