Abe Dabdoub, the attorney for People's National Party (PNP) Member of Parliament for Western Hanover, Ian Hayles, is claiming that the dual-citizenship case involving his client was not filed within the time required by law.

Dabdoub was making his submission yesterday in an application brought by his client in the Court of Appeal.

Hayles is seeking to get the appeal court to quash a Supreme Court ruling against him.

On December 4, last year, Supreme Court Judge Donald McIntosh struck out an application by Hayles to have the court dismiss the claim that he had dual citizenship.

No word on JDX penalty before Feb 16

Finance Minister Audley Shaw has again hinted that action could be taken against persons who fail to participate in the 'voluntary' debt swap dubbed Jamaica Debt Exchange (JDX).

However, Shaw told journalists yesterday that there would be no announcement of what, if any, action will be taken until after the JDX closes on February 16.

According to the finance minister, there was a 95 per cent take-up of the JDX by the close of the day on Tuesday, with other participants expected to fall in line before the offer closed yesterday afternoon.

He said he expected other domestic bond holders to join by February 16, based on the importance of the scheme.

Grant talks for SLB

The Government has started talks with the Caribbean Development Bank for a US$5-million grant for the Students' Loan Bureau (SLB). This is to increase the ability of the SLB to respond to any increase in requests for loans next fiscal year when the Government freezes its subsistence to university students.

The finance ministry is also in talks with the SLB about a lowering of the interest rates it charges on loans. An announcement on the lower rates is expected shortly.