PNP Women's Movement criticises JLP for readmitting George Wright

By Racquel Porter    

 

The People's National Party (PNP) is accusing the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) of hypocrisy, suggesting that Member of Parliament for Westmoreland Central George Wright's readmission to the party is a declaration that politics matters more than justice and morality.

 

The People National Party's Women's Movement claims Mr. Wright never left the party and that his resignation was just to "weather the storm".

 

In 2021, Mr. Wright resigned from the ruling party after a video of a man physically assaulting a woman was widely circulated.

 

The police later revealed that Mr. Wright and Tannisha Singh, who both made reports of assault against each other, supposedly arising from that incident, had indicated that they no longer wished to press charges.

 

He had since been serving as an independent MP.

 

Speaking at a press conference Tuesday morning, representatives of the PNP Women's Movement contended that the readmission of Mr. Wright into the JLP is a violation of women's trust. 

 

"It is a betrayal of every woman who has suffered in silence, to every survivor who was told that their pain doesn't matter, and to every little girl who is watching and learning what our country, what our government is willing to tolerate in the name of politics. The JLP didn't truly dismiss George Wright. They distanced themselves just long enough to weather the storm, only to now welcome him back as though he has been washed whiter than snow," argued Shadow Minister of Information and Public Communication Nekeisha Burchell.

 

Noting that the JLP's women have been silent on the party's decision to reinstate Mr. Wright, Ms. Burchell said the PNP's women will not be silent but instead will fight against domestic abuse.

 

In the meantime, President of the PNP Women's Movement Patricia Duncan-Sutherland, who was dressed in black, said she is in solidarity with the 30 per cent of women who have experienced domestic violence. 

 

While acknowledging that redemption is possible, Mrs. Duncan-Sutherland contended that "It is outrageous that we should choose to normalise violence against women in Jamaica, in whatever shape or form, by accepting that this should be swept under the carpet."