ST ANN’S BAY, St Ann — Supporters of former member of Parliament (MP) for North East St Ann, Shahine Robinson, came out in strong support of her yesterday calling for a by-election so she can be returned to Gordon House.

The supporters, who said they did not want her dual-citizenship case to be dragged out in the courts, called on Prime Minister Bruce Golding to send them to the polls.

“We need it now, call it now, tell Peter Phillips and Portia Simpson (Miller) that we need it now, a the date we want. We ready. Shahine we want, Shahine all the way,” shouted one supporter.

The St Ann North East seat was declared vacant by the Supreme Court in default judgement on Monday. Robinson was the subject of an election petition filed by the People’s National Party’s Manley Bowen on an allegation that she held US citizenship at the time of her election in 2007.

But yesterday, the more than 100 supporters, who were clad in party colours, chanted party slogans and songs at the constituency office in St Ann’s Bay in support of the woman they claimed had done a lot for her constituents.

They said Labourites in the constituency were ready and raring to go to the polls and that the party’s election machinery was well oiled. They assured that Robinson, who polled 11,632 votes to Oswest Senior Smith of the People’s National Party, 9,610 in the 2007 general election — would win by at least 3,000 votes if a by-election was called.

“North east St Ann is ready; we’re organised and ready to go. We welcome a by-election any time. Shahine Robinson will be the candidate and she will succeed,” Robinson told the Observer yesterday, amidst loud cheers from her supporters.

Councillor for the St Ann’s Bay Ddivision, Dallas Dickenson said the Labourites were not daunted by the court ruling.

“We are standing by her and we intend to support her all the way, because there can be no other leader for North East St Ann other than Shahine Robinson. One way all the time,” Dickenson told the Observer.

Meanwhile, councilor caretaker for the Beecher Town Division, Kenny Dickson said North East St Ann was one of the safest seats for the JLP and that supporters were confident that it would remain in their hands anytime an election is called.

The supporters described Robinson as a hardworking politician, who had the interest of the constituency at heart and that there had been significant growth in the are since she won the seat from the PNP in a by-election in 2002.