The court ordered that Member of Parliament Michael Stern vacate the seat

KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC ? The High Court has reserved judgement in a case brought by a member of the main opposition People?s National Party (PNP) who wants to be declared the winner of the North West Clarendon constituency that was won by the ruling Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) in the last general election.

Earlier this week, the court ordered that the Member of Parliament Michael Stern vacate the seat after he admitted that he was also a United States citizen at the time he was nominated to contest the 2007 general elections that the JLP won by a slender four- seat majority.

Attorney Kirk Anderson, in his submission to the court, argued that a by-election should be held, as had been the case when another dual citizenship matter involving the PNP?s Abe Daboub and the JLP?s Daryl Vaz was settled.

But Daboub, who is representing the PNP?s Richard Azan in the West Clarendon constituency matter, is asking the judge to declare Stern?s nomination null and void and award the seat in parliament to his client.

The court is expected to hand down its ruling at the start of the new term in September.

The PNP has been successful in two dual citizenship matters in the courts. However, the party has not been able to win the subsequent by-elections ordered by the court.

Prime Minister Bruce Golding has already made it clear that he would call new general elections if anyone not elected by the voters are allowed to sit in Parliament.