Phyllis hearing for May

The election petition, which People’s National Party candidate and caretaker for St Catherine North Eastern, Phyllis Mitchell, brought against Member of Parliament Gregory Mair, has been set for hearing on May 18 in the Supreme Court.



The date was set today when the parties appeared before Senior Puisne Judge Marva McIntosh in chambers.



The hearing is expected to last for five days.



Mitchell filed an election petition shortly after the general election on September 3, 2007 contending that Mair had dual citizenship.



Mitchell said in court documents that Mair was a Venezuelan and was not entitled in law to be a Member of Parliament.



Mair challenged the service of the petition on the ground that he was not served in accordance with the Election Petitions Act.



Senior Puisne Judge Marva McIntosh found that he was not properly served by registered mail.



Mitchell appealed and the Court of Appeal found that Mair was properly served and sent back the election petition to the Supreme Court for a hearing.



There are three other election petitions pending in the Supreme Court, two of which involve dual citizenship.



The Court of Appeal is expected to hand down its decision this month in the dual citizenship case which People\'s National Party candidate Abe Dabdoub has brought against Member of Parliament Daryl Vaz.



Chief Justice Zaila McCalla had ordered a by election but Dabdoub has appealed saying he should be returned as the duly elected Member of Parliament.