Jamaica Labor Party (JLP) has described the People’s National Party’s (PNP) concerns over Marisa Dalrymple-Philibert’s candidacy in the upcoming by-election in Trelawny South, as an act of brazen and barefaced hypocrisy.
In a statement on Thursday, Deputy General Secretary Charles Sinclair said that the party believes in the presumption of innocence, a fundamental pillar of Jamaica’s legal system.
He added that the JLP carefully selects candidates, particularly those with matters awaiting judicial determination.
About a year ago, Dalrymple-Philibert resigned as Member of Parliament for Trelawny Southern. The Integrity Commission’s director of corruption prosecution ruled that she be charged with allegations that she made a false statement in her statutory declarations.
She repeated the omission from 2015 to 2017 and 2018-2020. The matter remains before the courts.
Knowing this, Jamaica Labor Party supporters in the constituency have decided that Dalrymple-Philibert should return to the seat.
Sinclair said the JLP chose Dalrymple-Philibert because of her admission that it was a genuine oversight when she failed to include a car she barely used in her declarations. Plus, there is overwhelming demand in the constituency for her to return.
Dalrymple Philibert’s Reinstatement: Jamaica Labor Party Calls Out PNP Hypocrisy
The deputy general secretary called the PNP hypocrites for expressing concerns over Dalrymple-Philibert’s impending candidacy. He said there are members of the Opposition who have been accused and, in some cases, convicted of serious crimes.
According to Sinclair, the PNP’s statement is another act of hypocrisy. He singled out several PNP members who have had run-ins with the law.
For example, potential candidates Ian Hayles, who an anti-corruption agency has recommended for criminal investigation; Mikael Phillips, who is to be charged for breaching the Integrity Commission Act; Dwayne Vaz, who was fined for breaching the Integrity Commission Act; Philip Paulwell, Member of Parliament, who was convicted for breaches of the Firearms Act; and worst of all, Isat Buchanan, who has two convictions against him for narcotics trafficking, trafficking in cocaine
Sinclair added: “History also reminds us that Councilor Troupe, who was serving as deputy mayor, and former Councilor Sylvan Reid were arrested and charged for illegal possession of firearms and breach of the Scamming Law, respectively. Still, they were allowed to continue to serve in their respective capacities under the principle of innocent until proven guilty.”
Mr. Sinclair insists that the same principle should be applied to Dalrymple-Philibert. She had admitted that her infraction was caused by a “genuine oversight on her part.”