Supreme Court orders another by-election

THE political scene heated up last week when it was announced that the people of North East St Catherine will go to the polls on June 16 to elect a member of parliament (MP).

This followed a ruling by Supreme Court Judge Horace Marsh that the seat was to be declared vacant when lawyers representing the Jamaica Labour Party's (JLP) Gregory Mair and the People's National Party's (PNP) Phyllis Mitchell appeared in court on Thursday.

Mair won the September 2007 general election by 959 votes over Mitchell. He had polled 6,064 votes to Mitchell's 5,105.

Election petition

However, Mitchell entered an election petition claiming Mair was a Venezuelan citizen and, therefore, not eligible to sit in the House of Representatives.

The court's ruling was based on Mair's admission that on nomination day, August 7, 2007, he was a citizen of the Republic of Venezuela.

Mair also admitted that on nomination day, he was the holder of a Venezuelan passport. He further admitted that he applied for the passport and travelled on it from time to time.

Mair and the PNP's Granville Valentine are expected to be nominated on Friday, May 29.

Also in the news ...

Former Prime Minister PJ Patterson. - File

Patterson considering legal action

Former Prime Minister P.J. Patterson has begun exploring legal options against media houses he believes maligned him.

On Thursday, Patterson issued a statement announcing that he has retained the services of the law firm Knight, Junor and Samuels to provide legal representation "in light of media reports surrounding the arrival of a private chartered aircraft at the Norman Manley International Airport on the night of Thursday, May 14, 2009."

The statement came after Prime Minister Bruce Golding declared that a police investigation had cleared Patterson of any wrongdoing.

Gifted midwife

She has delivered hundreds of children over the years and is eager for more. No, they aren't all her own, although, believe it or not, she has delivered eight of her own 12 children.

Matilda Morant, 78, an untrained midwife, is considered a community hero in her hometown of Harmons, south Manchester.

JDF rescues 10

Heavy rains lashed most of the island last week, leaving several persons marooned, roads blocked and houses flooded. On Thursday, soldiers from the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) Air Wing were able to rescue 10 people who were stranded on a roof in Winchester, St Thomas, The rain was linked to a trough across the central Caribbean.

Armed police at airport

In response to the attempted take-over of an aeroplane at the Sangster International Airport on April 19, the Ministry of National Security has posted uniformed armed police personnel between the screening and aircraft facilities.

Another Opposition walkout

The failure of the Government to begin the 2009-2010 Sectoral Debate as scheduled in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, triggered a walkout by the People's National Party (PNP). Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett was due to open the debate and East Kingston and Port Royal MP Phillip Paulwell was to speak for the Opposition. The debate is now set to begin on June 2.