Dabdoub

A public opinion poll, commissioned by the People's National Party (PNP) in West Portland, has revealed that the Jamaica Labour Party's (JLP) Daryl Vaz would have swamped Abe Dabdoub almost three votes to one if the two had faced off in the March 23 by-election.

The Gleaner has learnt that the poll, conducted by a prominent local pollster, showed Vaz leading Dabdoub by 29 percentage points.

"It would have been a massacre," a PNP source told The Gleaner while pointing to other more favourable findings by the pollster.

The poll revealed that the JLP and the PNP were in a statistical dead heat when potential voters were asked which party would be better in managing the affairs of the constituency.

The JLP leads by three percentage points but with the poll having a margin of error of plus or minus 4.5 per cent, the PNP officials say that's an indication that the by-election is far from over.

On Sunday, the PNP confirmed reports, first carried by The Gleaner, that former JLP candidate Kenneth Rowe had been selected to replace Dabdoub as its standard-bearer in the constituency.

But the party made no mention of the poll which showed Dabdoub had no hope of beating Vaz.

Legal challenges

"Comrade Dabdoub has indicated that he wishes to dedicate his time to dealing with the ongoing legal challenges to ensure that the Constitution of Jamaica is protected and upheld. He will, therefore, not make himself available as a candidate at this time, but will give full support to Comrade Rowe," the PNP said in reference to other challenges mounted against sitting JLP members of parliament.

"Comrade Dabdoub will play an active role in the by-election and has been appointed chief campaign adviser," the PNP added.

Dabdoub also pointed to the election challenges as his reason for not contesting the by-election.

But even before the Appeal Court ruled that there should be a by-election in the constituency, a Gleaner team had found that Dabdoub would have been swimming against the tide.

Two weeks ago, Samuel Sudu, a former PNP councillor/caretaker for the Hope Bay division, said Vaz had made West Portland 'JLP territory'.

"If there is a by-election, Vaz will win. Vaz has been working since he has been here. It is not about PNP nor JLP, it is about progress," Sudu said.

He was supported by businessman Norman Edwards, who claimed that he supported the PNP until he broke ranks in 2002.

According to Edwards, Dabdoub was not welcome in the constituency.

Similar sentiments were expressed by several other persons who said while they would continue to support the PNP, they did not want Dabdoub on the by-election ticket.