JLP, PNP brace for West Portland by-election
THE two major political parties are preparing to do battle in a West Portland by-election, following Friday’s court decision to oust sitting Member of Parliament (MP) Daryl Vaz.
Vaz, who took the seat for the ruling Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) in last year’s general elections, was disqualified to hold it because of his allegiance to the United States.
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Chief Justice Zaila McCalla, who made the ruling, also dealt a blow to the People’s National Party’s (PNP’s) Abe Dabdoub, caretaker for the area, in ordering a by-election to elect a new representative. Dabdoub had expected that he would automatically be made MP.
It is against this background that the local machinery of both parties is beginning to ready for new elections.
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“The constituency has always given him (Daryl Vaz) the fullest support in whatever way. We are not perturbed by going into a by-election because the fact of the matter is that Daryl Vaz has brought a new type of politics to West Portland, a responsible type of politics,” said Vaz’ campaign manager, Paul Young.
In fact, he said that there was not much they would have to do to secure a second victory.
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“Daryl Vaz delivers on every promise to the people. He is always there for his people. and our political machinery is always revving,” Young told the Sunday Observer, adding that Dabdoub in a by-election would not be much of a contender.
“I do not factor Dabdoub in anything. That is only a name that still lingers around. It is a residue,” he said.
John Murdock, campaign manager for Dabdoub in the last elections, disagreed. He noted, however, that the PNP would await the outcome of Dabdoub’s appeal of the decision to have the new representative determined on the basis of a by-election.
“We are a little disappointed by the ruling and maybe even confused. It seems a little contradictory. But I know that Mr Dabdoub has filed notice to lodge a petition to appeal against the ruling and await some explanation,” Murdock told the Sunday Observer.
He added that they would, in the interim, prepare for the fight that the by-election would bring.
“We are doing what we need to do to prepare the constituency for an election. We are going to be doing a sounding tomorrow (today) to find out what the people would like and as soon as all that data is collected then we will proceed,” Murdock said.
But West Portland residents are lukewarm over the prospect of a by-election for the constituency.
“I would vote again, but I honestly don’t believe that Mr Vaz is the fittest person to run in the seat. Mr Dabdoub is not the fittest person either,” said one resident who gave his name as Butty.
At the same time, the resident said he felt that there was need to hold others, namely the office of the Director of Elections, accountable for Vaz’ current dilemma.
“Dem shouldn’t hold Mr Vaz responsible fi di whole thing. Mr (Danville) Walker (the director of elections) – dem shoulda hold him responsible. Dem supposed to do a background check. Dem supposed to know seh Mr Vaz have dual citizenship. Somebody need fi answer,” Butty told the Sunday Observer.
A second resident, Richie, said he was uninterested in a by-election and more particularly in the candidates.
“Anything you input in (such as voting for an election) you should be confident. But the leaders dem nuh steady. Some times yuh hear some things supposed to happen and it turn into a depression for everybody,” said the resident, who is also an ex-police officer.
Others said that with Vaz ousted on grounds of his allegiance to the US, Dabdoub should have been given the seat outright, thereby eliminating the need for a by-election.
“A pure joke mi si surroun’ the law. Mi nuh respect the by-election,” said Lloyd Brown, as he played dominoes in Buff Bay. “The only thing mi woulda do in dat (election) a look a one-day police work.”
Keith Richards disagreed. The 66-year-old said that while necessary, a by-election would ultimately prove unnecessary since the results would again go in Vaz’ favour.
“Dat (the by-election) haffi gwaan; and it going to be a worse beaten fi dem (the PNP),” he said.
