Electoral officials have started a frantic search for a new director of elections following yesterday's sudden resignation of Danville Walker.

Walker who had held the position for 10 years, resigned at a time when there is much speculation about a 'snap election'.

Nominated member of the Electoral Commission of Jamaica (ECJ), Dr Herbert Thompson, yesterday confirmed that Walker stepped aside, following mounting pressure, after it was revealed in court that he had sworn allegiance to a foreign power.

"Danville Walker's resignation as director of elections at this time constitutes a grave and unfortunate loss to the electoral system and to Jamaica," Thompson said yesterday.

He castigated the detractors of his former colleague, charging that they wanted to get rid of Walker because he was a no-nonsense person.

"There are those who want Mr Walker's head for a number of different reasons, not the least of which is the fact that Mr Walker is no pushover and and he cannot be trampled upon," he said.

Thompson told The Gleaner that Walker was a "man of principle" who stood firm as the commission sought to fix the electoral system."

He expressed the hope that the country would be able to find a replacement who would bring the same energy and determination to the position of director of elections.

Family decision

Asked why Walker did not denounce his United States citizen-ship and reapply for the job, Thompson said it might have been a decision he made in consultation with his family.

However, he hinted that Walker might have felt a stream of ingratitude for the invaluable contribution he made in helping to reform the electoral process.

"One has to look at the level of gratitude that one gets after one has given up oneself totally to the betterment of this country," he stressed.

The Gleaner was not able to reach Walker for comment yesterday.

Tom Tavares-Finson, Jamaica Labour Party-selected commissioner on the ECJ, said Walker's resig-nation did not come as a surprise.

"He has been a firm and extremely competent director of elections," Tavares-Finson said. "He has provided a remarkable service to his country and the Government of Jamaica is extremely grateful for the contribution he has made."

Call for review

Tavares-Finson said the provisions in the Electoral Commission Act, which disqualified Walker as director of elections, should be reviewed.

Donald Buchanan, one of the PNP's representatives on the ECJ, told The Gleaner last night that Walker contributed significantly to the reform of Jamaica's electoral system.

"He is a true professional and based on the conflict with his status and the law, he did the honourable thing," Buchanan said.

"Other people in Gordon House who find themselves in similar conflict with the law and who call themselves honourable should follow his example," Buchanan added.

In an election petition brought against Daryl Vaz by People's National Party (PNP) candidate for Western Portland, Abe Dabdoub, Walker's eligibility as director of elections was called into question.

Dabdoub's attorneys made a successful bid in the Supreme Court to get the JLP's Vaz ousted as Member of Parliament for West Portland.

The court ruled that Vaz, by virtue of his own act, had pledged allegiance or obedience to the United States and should be disqualified.

Section 3 of the Electoral Commission (Interim) Act stipulates that a person shall not be qualified to be a nominated commissioner or director of elections if he

"is, by virtue of his own act, under any acknowledgement of allegiance, obedience or adherence to a foreign power or state."