Spoilt brats or sore losers?

The Editor, Sir:

The laws of Jamaica provide for election petitions to be filed under the Election Petitions Act should there be any discrepancies with the eligibility of candidates, among a myriad of other considerations.

Sections 39, 40 (2) (a) and 41 (1) (c), respectively, set out the framework and the requirements needed in order to be qualified to sit in the Senate and the House of Representatives. They also outline the factors that would cause one not to be eligible, or otherwise lose one's seat in the House of Representatives.

Since 2007, two by-elections have been held on the basis that sitting members of the House were holding dual citizenship, and another now looms for later this month. Now, let's face some facts. Results from both by-elections held were that the sitting members were retained - boasting higher margins.

$60 million cost

Both elections saw the sitting members retaining their seats, and one won by a larger margin than he had initially in the general election in 2007.

These elections have cost taxpayers over $60 million. Were these elections worth it? It makes one wonder, what is the real reason behind these by-elections, considering that the premise exists that the sitting member will win? Are persons orchestrating these drawn- out court cases on a wild goose chase, or are they behaving like spoilt brats, or even sore losers?

Yes, the laws of Jamaica must be upheld; however, the laws should not be used as a means to disrupt governance and/or act as a revenge tool. It now appears as though the Opposition is acting in malice with the cases being pursued as it relates to dual-citizenship matters. Abe Dabdoub would seem not to be so much a stringent upholder of the law but as a man acting to settle a score.

I implore the Opposition to find other ways to show their loyalty to the law other than bringing their colleagues to the courts hoping for seats to be given to them.

The country gets the message you initially tried to convey; holding dual citizenship disqualifies one from sitting in Parliament, but don't be hypocrites while conveying this message.

I am, etc.,

JAVID BROWN

javid@stu.ncu.edu.jm

Mandeville, Manchester