Marisa Dalrymple-Philibert is the ruling Jamaica Labor Party’s candidate for the Trelawny Southern November 22 by-election. But, the People’s National Party (PNP) has expressed grave concern over the decision, noting that Marisa Dalrymple-Philibert has integrity issues.
Marisa Dalrymple-Philibert, a former Speaker of the House, resigned as the constituency’s Member of Parliament and Speaker of the House last September.
The IC slapped her with eight criminal charges for making a false statement in her statutory declarations to the Integrity Commission.
Allegations indicated that Marisa Dalrymple-Philibert had omitted a Mercedes-Benz motor vehicle from her filings between 2015 and 2021.
In her defense, she stated that the omission of the vehicle was a genuine oversight on her part. Still, her controversial use of a 20 percent duty concession to acquire the car was also in contention.
Controversy Surrounds JLP Candidate Marisa Dalrymple-Philibert
Many concerned citizens wondered whether Marisa Dalrymple-Philibert would genuinely forget to list a car for which she had paid $ 6 million.
Reacting to the unfortunate news announced by Prime Minister Andrew Holness Wednesday, the PNP argued that having Dalrymple-Philibert selected as a candidate is highly contemptuous of Jamaica’s judicial system.
“It also signals a disturbing disregard for accountability,” said the party.
Further, the PNP said, “This troubling trend was also evident with the nomination of Kim Brown Lawrence for the local government elections, even as she remains charged in a serious fraud and corruption case involving the Ministry of Education and the Caribbean Maritime University.”
The PNP says Jamaicans deserve leaders who uphold the highest standards of transparency and respect the rule of law. “Where do we, as a nation, draw the line?”
The PNP says the Government must prioritize integrity and act in a manner that truly reflects its duty to the people and democratic values.
Not surprisingly, the PNP is not alone against Marisa Dalrymple-Philibert as a candidate in the November by-election.
Danielle Archer, principal director of corruption watchdog National Integrity Action, said that allowing Dalrymple-Philibert to run as the JLP’s candidate was “completely unacceptable” as the former MP’s criminal charges were still unresolved.
Political commentator Lloyd B. Smith said that while the move might be seen as “politically correct,” the decision to make Dalrymple-Philibert run is “morally incorrect” and flies in the face of better judgment.
Smith said there was a need to set standards, probity, and transparency in Government, and what is now unfolding does not augur well for Jamaica.
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