A NEW date has been set in the dual citizenship case which People's National Party (PNP) candidate Abe Dabdoub has brought against Daryl Vaz, Member of Parliament for Western Portland constituency.

The hearing was set for October 16, but Vaz applied for another date on the grounds that he had recently retained the law firm Livingston Alexander and Levy to represent him.

Chief Justice Zaila McCalla heard the application in chambers on Wednesday and, following an agreement between the lawyers representing the parties, the hearing was set for October 31.

Dabdoub had filed a motion before the September 3 General Election seeking a declaration that Vaz, the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) candidate, had pledged allegiance to a foreign state and should not have been nominated.

The motion was set for hearing after the election and Dabdoub has since filed an election petition challenging Vaz's election to the House of Representatives because of his alleged dual citizenship.

The PNP candidate is seeking to be returned the duly elected candidate because he is contending that Vaz breached the Constitution when he allegedly pledged allegiance to a foreign state.

The suit, filed by Gary Nelson, is contending that Vaz is the holder of a passport issued by the United States (U.S.) Government.

Dabdoub states in the suit that, by virtue of Vaz's own act, he was under an acknowledgement of allegiance, obedience or adherence to a foreign power or state in contravention of section 40 of the Jamaican Constitution.