Gareth Davis Sr, Gleaner Writer

Abe Dabdoub

Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) supporters in West Portland were in a relaxed but joyous mood yesterday, despite the court ruling against their member of parliament, Daryl Vaz, who lost his dual citizenship case against Abe Dabdoub.

From as early as 10 a.m., JLP supporters converged in Buff Bay, eagerly awaiting the court ruling from Chief Justice Zaila McCalla. Expectations were high that the ruling would favour Vaz, who they claimed had rekindled a sense of unity among party supporters in West Portland.

"I am very confident that Vaz will get the verdict in his favour," said a JLP supporter, Vivette Gray-Thomas, minutes before the ruling was handed down. "Mr Vaz is a hard worker who tries to assist everyone. Even before he became MP, a farm road in the constituency was repaired by him and he also assisted some students with the payment of school fees."

After the ruling, only a smattering of People's National Party supporters was spotted throughout the constituency, chanting that justice had been handed down.

Some constituents claimed, however, that supporters on both sides of the political fence were largely unaware of yesterday's court ruling, which might have led to the limited turnout of supporters all around.