Kelly

Another by-election, another butt whipping. Seriously, are we going to go through this again and again? Okay, so the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) members of parliament (first Daryl Vaz and now Gregory Mair) had dual citizenship at the time of nomination and thus, weren't supposed to be in Parliament. That's the law, I accept that. But, realistically, both men had won the seats by nearly 1,000 votes the first time. So, as some expected, their supporters voted for them again, the Opposition fans (now faced with new candidates) stayed away and the neutrals just couldn't be bothered. Hence, bigger margins of victory for the JLP.

The problem started with the first court ruling of a by-election between Vaz and Dabdoub. No judge is now going to just hand over the seat to the Opposition. The precedent has already been set. So by-elections have to be called, run, hyped up, words thrown and allegations spread. So far, the People's National Party (PNP) has gone for two candidates who have never previously run for the party in the by-election areas and both men, Kenneth Rowe and Granville Valentine, lost badly. I believe both men were given baskets in which to carry water and we all know how easy (note the sarcasm) that can be done. So with two other JLP candidates possibly soon to go through the courts as well, it could mean two more by-elections, millions of dollars going to (relative) waste and, potentially, more humiliation for the PNP.

Oh and don't forget that the JLP has made threats about exposing the dual citizens on the Opposition side of Gordon House. Now suppose they take those individuals to court and the judges decide those candidates aren't eligible? Are we going to have by-elections there too? More money to spend from what we don't have? I really don't think so. I respect the constitution too, but there has to be another way.

My Suggestion

Here's what I suggest. All MPs who have dual citizenship should renounce the foreign ones. If they had them at election time but have since renounced, leave them to continue as MPs. If an individual refuses to renounce, then his/her party should kick him/her out and find a replacement. The other party, as a show of goodwill, should accept the new individual and allow him/her to keep the seat for the winning party PROVIDED the original MP won the seat by more than 1,000 votes. Any race that was closer (let's say less than 400), then we vote again; winner take all.

This plan cuts down on time, money and hassle, and ensures everybody in the House is eligible to be there. There's your solution folks. Now was that so hard?

Tell me your views at daviot.kelly@gleanerjm.com.

Ruddy Spencer (left), health minister and Jamaica Labour Party member of parliament, chats with People's National Party activist and lawyer, Abe Dabdoub, on Tuesday evening. - Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer