DARYL VAZ has described Kenneth Rowe, the People's National Party's (PNP) candidate against him in the March 23 West Portland by-election, as a "redundant Labourite".

The PNP selected Rowe, an ex-Labourite, to compete against Vaz of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) in the by-election. Nomination day is this Friday.

Vaz had faced off with another former JLP representative in Abe Dabdoub during the 2007 general election.

"What I am asking the PNP is: Out of everybody, if they can't find a pedigree PNP to send instead of having to find redundant Labourites?" Vaz questioned.

Prime Minister Bruce Golding announced the by-election for West Portland last Friday after the Court of Appeal upheld a ruling by Chief Justice Zaila McCalla that Vaz be disqualified and a by-election held.

Dabdoub, who defected from the JLP in 2006, lost to Vaz in the September 2007 general election but demanded that the seat be handed to him as Vaz had pledged allegiance to a foreign power and therefore was not eligible to be elected to Parliament.

Yesterday, Vaz said he was "most disappointed" that Dabdoub was not the PNP's choice.

"I wanted Dabdoub. For all the trials and tribulations that he has caused this country," said Vaz.

"If it is a sacrificial lamb that they are sending since nomination day is Friday, then they should at least give me some good meat and not meat that I have chewed up and spat out already," added Vaz.

Vaz beat Rowe in a 2005 JLP candidate selection in West Portland, which paved the way for him to contest the seat for the party.

daraine.luton@gleanerjm.com