George Wright should hold off his resignation for now !

Over in the USA the name George Floyd was significant in bringing about some much needed changes in how policemen who have abused their powers over the year and got away with it .

In Jamaica the name George Wright appears set to bring about some permanent changes in how matters involving parliamentarians are handled correctly.

The coalition of 9 progressive protecting women’s group, JAMP, NIA, JCC, PSOJ among others have all called for the resignation of MP George Wright for allegations (not proven) that he physically assaulted a women which was captured on CCTV.

The police having reviewed the “evidence” found that such “evidence” was not not of the appropriate quality to make a determination that the man on the video assaulting a woman was in fact the MP George Wright and subsequently closed the case .

Despite the FACT that there is no evidence beyond reasonable doubt to say the man on the video was Wright, the calls for George Wright to resign has gotten progressively louder and I am actually happy that has taken place, since it now allows for us to once and for all address certain matters.

PNP members of Parliament Mikael Phillips was never caught on tape assaulting his now ex-wife, however he was charged for assault and appeared in a court to answer those charges. Between then and now Mr. Phillips was NEVER sanctioned by the PNP for abusing his then wife and at no point was any calls made for him to step aside from representational politics.

Mr Phillips continiues to serve today and even head up on of the most power committees of pariliamnent which is the PAAC.

Natalie Neita Headley another PNP MP was also charged by the police and appeared in court to answer charges she punched and assaulted a junior employee in 2018. Mrs. Headley was NEVER sanctioned by the PNP nor were there any calls by these new groups along with the others, for the PNP to part company with Natalie or any calls for her to resign as Member of Parliament.

Now why have I raised these two matters, is it tat for tat. Actually this is not tit for tat, it is really saying if we are to have a truly honest conversation about the conduct of our elected members, the treatment for all must be equal on matters such of abuse, man or woman.

Frankly speaking, over the years when JLP members have been accused of wrong doing they have always been given the boot or have taken the high ground and walked away. In every such case the civil society groups calling for action to be taken by the JLP leadership has been very vociferous and the JLP has always taken the high road.

I have however noted that when the same happens in the PNP there are no such calls, the leadership of the PNP does nothing and those who did wrong continues to serve without any sort of punishment.

We the JLP bloggers are no longer willing to take such a position. We will not sit back and allow members of the PNP who in the cases mentioned above have been identified as committing such acts, taken before the courts in Jamaica and be allowed to continue to sit in Parliament, while George who has only been accused must walk away, NO enough is enough and we will NO LONGER stand for the hypocritical nature of ALL these groups.

We the JLP bloggers are going to be insisting that George goes when Natalie Neita Headley and Mikael Phillips goes. In addition we are demanding the 9 progressive women coalition, the NIA, JCC, JAMP and other interested groups all issue similar demands on the Mr. Phillips and Natalie Neita Headley to resign.

Failing such calls we are telling George Wright to remain as MP until such calls are made and action taken on the two whose matters that are yet to be resolved.

George Wright will not be the poster child of abuse, while Mikael Phillips and Natalie Neita Headley continues to enjoy the luxury of sitting in Parliament unscathed.

I will also encourage PM Holness to remain silent on this matter because he already taken all the actions that the constitution allows him to take. He should also note that ” Silence can misunderstand but never misquoted”.

We demand equal treatment for equal “crimes”.

We are therefore hoping this issue remains in the media until action is demand by civil society groups and the PNP acts in that regard.

Enough is Enough.

Bless