Arthur Hall, Senior Staff Reporter

Walker

Director of Elections Danville Walker will remain in his job, at least for now, despite the court ruling in the Vaz vs Dabdoub case.

The Electoral Commission of Jamaica (ECJ) has delayed its decision on Walker's fate, pending the outcome of an appeal to be filed by the People's National Party's Abe Dabdoub.

Questions have been asked about the future of Walker after it was disclosed in court that he held United States (US) citizenship.

Under the law

Under the law, members of the ECJ, including the director of elections, must not have sworn allegiance to a foreign country - the same grounds on which the court ruled that Daryl Vaz was not qualified to sit as a member of the House of Representatives.

Yesterday, the matter was discussed during a meeting of the ECJ.

After the meeting, ECJ member, Dr Herbert Thompson, told The Gleaner that no decision would be made on the fate of Walker until after the court rules on the appeal by Dabdoub.

Time for appeal

"There is a six-week window for the appeal and the ECJ will also await the appeal," Thompson said. "If something was to happen and the ruling of the chief justice is reversed, the matter of the director of election would not arise."

He said the ECJ would act immediately after the ruling of the Appeal Court, but noted that Walker could act before that ruling.

"He (Walker) can renounce (his US citizenship) or resign before any action is taken," Thompson noted.

Vaz not appealing

The appeal by Dabdoub surrounds the chief justice's ruling that a by-election should be held in West Portland, as lawyers representing the PNP caretaker believe he should have been handed the seat.

Vaz is not appealing the ruling that he is not qualified to sit in the House, and has already started the process of renouncing his US citizenship.

But that is not preventing the ECJ from awaiting the Appeal Court's ruling.

According to Thompson, "Sometimes the court gives more than is asked for."

arthur.hall@gleanerjm.com