JAMAICA | PNP Moves to Counter JLP's Unfounded Smear Campaign with Legal Action

KINGSTON,  Jamaica February 6, 2025 - The People's National Party (PNP) announced today it will pursue legal action against what it calls a "calculated disinformation campaign" by the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), marking a dramatic escalation in the political tensions between Jamaica's two major parties.

In a forceful rebuke, Party Chairman Dr. Angela Brown-Burke  defended PNP General Secretary, Dr. Dayton Campbell, and Kingston Mayor Andrew Swaby against what she described as politically motivated accusations devoid of evidence. The opposition party challenged the JLP to either substantiate its claims through proper legal channels or face consequences for what it termed "malicious defamation."

The controversy erupts amid mounting scrutiny of the JLP government's handling of public funds, with the PNP pointing to a pattern of questionable financial decisions that have cost taxpayers hundreds of millions. Most notably, an unauthorized lease for an vacant building in Annotto Bay has drained $23.4 million in public funds within a single year, allegedly benefiting a sitting JLP parliamentarian.

In an even more striking example of fiscal mismanagement, taxpayers continue to shoulder a $475.7 million burden for an unoccupied property in Greenvale, Mandeville—funds the PNP argues could have been directed toward critical public services.

The alleged preferential treatment extends beyond property deals, according to the PNP's statement. A media outlet reportedly owing over $1 billion in unpaid taxes continues to secure government contracts, raising questions about the selective application of financial oversight under the current administration.

The opposition party also highlighted escalating tensions between the JLP government and key oversight institutions. The administration's repeated clashes with the Integrity Commission and Auditor General, coupled with the Prime Minister's refusal to sign the Commission's Code of Conduct, paint a troubling picture of resistance to accountability measures.

"While the JLP manufactures baseless scandals, they systematically undermine the very institutions designed to protect public interests," the PNP statement suggests, calling for law enforcement agencies to clarify whether any legitimate investigations are underway regarding their party members.

The PNP maintains its focus will remain on addressing governance issues and ensuring public funds serve their intended purpose—the Jamaican people—rather than what it characterizes as the JLP's strategy of political theatrics and corruption.

The statement reaffirms the opposition's commitment to transparency while demanding an immediate end to what it terms the JLP's "campaign of lies and deception."

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