Votes needed to maintain ratings

Political historian Troy Caine is suggesting that the candidates for the JLP and the PNP will have to achieve a significant number of votes in the March 23 by-election to maintain their parties’ ratings.



According to Mr. Caine, if Kenneth Rowe earns higher votes than the previous PNP candidate Abe Dabdoub, the party could achieve a moral victory, while success for the JLP’s Daryl Vaz will signal the labour party’s hold on the constituency.



Mr. Caine says the current dual citizenship debate is not likely to significantly affect the outcome of the by-election.



On February 27, the Court of Appeal upheld a ruling by Chief Justice Zaila McCalla that Daryl Vaz was not eligible to remain in the House of Representatives, because he was a US citizen at the time of his nomination in 2007.



The challenge was brought to the court by PNP candidate, Abe Dabdoub who Mr. Vaz had defeated in the 2007 general election.



Kenneth Rowe, a former Jamaica Labour Party member was selected to represent the PNP in the constituency following the court’s ruling.