Dr Michelle Charles Demands PNP Retract ‘Defamatory’ Dual Citizenship Claims

The attorney representing the JLP’s Dr. Michelle Charles, Abe Dabdoub, is calling on the PNP and its youth organisation to retract what he describes as defamatory statements questioning the legitimacy of Dr. Charles’ election to the House of Representatives.

Charles is the member of parliament for East St. Thomas.

The call for a retraction comes after PNP general secretary, Dr. Dayton Campbell, and the PNP-YO called on Dr. Charles to provide proof of her renunciation of US citizenship.

Chevon Campbell tells us more.

The statement calling for a retraction was issued on the letterhead of Dabdoub, Dabdoub and Company. It was sent to Dr. Dayton Campbell on Monday, June 24, 2024.

Attorney representing Dr. Charles, Abe Daboub, says his firm was consulted by Dr. Michelle Charles concerning what she views as defamatory allegations and innuendos mounted against her by Dr. Campbell and members of the PNP.

These involved questioning the legitimacy of her election to the House of Representatives.

Dr. Charles has repeatedly told Nationwide News that she is fully Jamaican.

In the letter, Mr. Dabdoub says that contrary to the PNP’s allegations and innuendos, the Member of Parliament was duly and validly elected. 

It says she is and was, at the time of her nomination, a citizen of Jamaica residing in Jamaica for more than 12 months before her nomination.

It also says Dr. Charles was not a citizen or under any form of allegiance whatsoever to a foreign power or state, including a commonwealth foreign power or state. 

The letter says her allegiance is and was to Jamaica only, in keeping with the oath taken at the time of her swearing-in as a member of parliament.

Mr. Dabdoub is demanding that Dr. Campbell publicly apologise for the allegations and innuendos made by the party, including the PNP Youth Organisation. 

Abe Dabdoub is the attorney who successfully challenged the legitimacy of West Portland MP Daryl Vaz’s election to the House of Representatives in 2008 due to his dual citizenship.

The challenge triggered a by-election for the seat that Mr. Vaz again successfully won in 2009.