JLP accuses PNP of 'brazen and barefaced hypocrisy' regarding Marisa Dalrymple-Philibert

The Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) is rejecting concerns raised by the People's National Party (PNP) about Marisa Dalrymple-Philibert's expected candidacy in the upcoming by-election in Trelawny Southern.

In a media release on Thursday afternoon, the JLP said the PNP's stance is another "clear act of brazen and barefaced hypocrisy which has characterised the Mark Golding-led party and Dayton Campbell-led secretariat."

Dalrymple-Philibert resigned as the constituency's Member of Parliament and Speaker of the House of Representatives last September after facing eight criminal charges for making a false statement in her statutory declarations to the Integrity Commission.

Dalrymple-Philibert had omitted a Mercedes-Benz motor vehicle from her filings between 2015 and 2021. She stated that the omission of the vehicle was a genuine oversight.

The controversial use of a 20 per cent duty concession to acquire the Benz was also in contention.

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The PNP has argued that having Dalrymple-Philibert as a candidate is highly contemptuous of Jamaica's judicial system.

But JLP Deputy General Secretary Charles Sinclair says the party believes in the presumption of innocence, which is a fundamental pillar of Jamaica's legal system.

Sinclair says "the extenuating circumstance of Mrs Dalrymple-Philibert, indicating that she genuinely forgot to include in her declarations a vehicle which she did not use regularly, along with the overwhelming demand in the constituency for her to return, were taken into consideration in the decision to select her as the Party's candidate."

In support of his assertion that the PNP is being hypocritical in opposing the selection of Dalrymple-Philibert, Sinclair notes that there are several current representatives of the PNP who have been charged with crimes and remained in their posts.

He points to former deputy mayor of Montego Bay, Michael Troupe, who was charged and eventually freed of gun and ammunition charges.

He also states that member of parliament Phillip Paulwell was convicted for a breach of the Firearms Act after he lost his licensed gun, and PNP candidate Dwayne Vaz pleaded guilty to breaching the Integrity Commission Act.

Further, Sinclair highlights that the PNP's representative in Portland Eastern, Isat Buchanan, was previously convicted for drug smuggling.

Sinclair says "it is noteworthy and reflective of sheer hypocrisy that the PNP which now professes to be concerned about Mrs Dalrymple-Philibert's candidacy has not taken action in any of the above instances to remove any of the individuals mentioned from their positions or withdraw their candidacy."

The JLP Deputy General Secretary says the party also takes careful note of commentary made by the National Integrity Action (NIA) in the print media about Dalrylple-Philibert. 

Danielle Archer, principal director of corruption watchdog National Integrity Action, indicated that the decision to allow Dalrymple-Philibert to run as the JLP's candidate was “completely unacceptable” as the former MP's criminal charges were still unresolved.

However, Sinclair argues that the NIA was, for the most part, silent on the issues concerning the PNP, including the recent matter of Mikael Phillips' status as MP and his Chairmanship of the Public Administration and Appropriations Committee despite the decision to lay a criminal charge against him for breaching the Integrity Commission Act.

Dalrylple-Philibert is set to run as the prospective candidate of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) in the November 22 by-election in Trelawny Southern.

She will return to court on December 6 when Parish Court judge Leighton Morris will decide whether the Integrity Commission's case against her should be thrown out or proceed to trial.