Jamaica’s Prime Minister Bruce Golding has announced the date for the by election in South West Catherine after the ruling Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) representatives resigned on Monday.
Everad Warmington submitted his resignation amid the ongoing controversy over his dual citizenship.
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Delroy Chuck, who made the announcement, said he was advised of Warmington’s resignation on Monday.
“I received a letter addressed to me as Speaker of the House of Representatives and it reads as follows: ‘This is to advise that because of the stipulation of chapter five part one section 42A of the Constitution of Jamaica I resign the position of Member of Parliament. Signed, Clifford Everald Warmington.’,” Chuck said.
Shortly after the announcement, Golding said the by-election will be held on April 4 with Nomination Day set for Wednesday, March 16.
Warmington will be contesting the seat on behalf of the JLP.
Golding said Warmington had decided to resign his seat due to the fact that when he was nominated he was a (US) citizen.
Golding said it would also left him “vulnerable to the consequences that we have seen in a number of court matters. Mr. Warmington in consultation with me and the leadership of the party has opted to tender his resignation,” he added.
With the resignation of Warmington, the Prime Minister said the governing JLP had no more dual citizenship cases to deal with. “That will resolve all issues relating to dual citizenship as far as the government members are concerned, I believe the spotlight must now turn to the opposition benches where there are at least two of which the evidence we have is proof positive,” Golding said.
Warmington won the South West St Catherine seat in the 2007 general election, polling 10 488 votes to the opposition People’s National Party’s (PNP) Dr Dennis Jones, who received 7 244 votes. So far, members of the PNP have successfully challenged four members of the governing party who held dual citizenship at the time of nomination – Daryl Vaz, Michael Stern, Shahine Robinson, and Gregory Mair.
All four were subsequently re-elected in by-elections. (CMC)
