JLP slams PNP's selection of Isat Buchanan to run in East Portland despite criminal past

The Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) is criticising the People's National Party (PNP) for its decision to select attorney Isat Buchanan as one of its candidates for the upcoming general elections in light of Buchanan's previous criminal convictions.

The PNP announced on Tuesday that Buchanan will represent it in the East Portland seat.

In a media release on Wednesday, the JLP said, in light of that decision, the PNP now "has no moral authority to speak on matters concerning corruption, crime or ethics."

The JLP pointed out that Buchanan was convicted in Jamaica for possession of, dealing in and taking steps to smuggle cocaine. He was also sentenced to approximately 10 years' imprisonment in a United States prison for similar drug smuggling crimes.

"While we believe in possible rehabilitation and redemption, Buchanan's recent crude, misogynistic and lewd remarks directed at a senior female public servant and his description of some Jamaicans as ugly... confirm his unbecoming conduct and poor judgement are not things of the past," the JLP said.

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"The decision by the Mark Golding-led PNP, which professes to have an Integrity Committee which vets candidates, to confirm and endorse Buchanan, reinforces the fact that the PNP cannot be trusted with governing Jamaica," it continued.

Buchanan's past has been a point of contention, with him being denied the chance to become a justice of the peace (JP) because of his criminal convictions.

Buchanan had applied to the Custos of Kingston in January 2017 to be a JP.

However, in May 2019, the custos advised him that he and the Advisory Committee for the Custos had reviewed his application and decided that they would not recommend his commission as a JP on the basis that they were not satisfied that he was a person of unquestionable character.

He was further told that information received by the custos indicated that he had failed to disclose that he had previous criminal convictions when making his application.

Meanwhile, in December 2023, Buchanan was handed a two-year suspension by a disciplinary panel of the General Legal Council after he was found guilty of professional misconduct for offensive comments he directed at the country's chief prosecutor, Paula Llewellyn.

He was granted a stay of the two-year suspension from practising law pending the outcome of his appeal against the suspension period, which has been described as excessive.