A year after assault scandal, Jamaican coalition demands more urgency on Impeachment Bill

On the first ‘anniversary’ of the infamous altercation that purportedly cost Westmoreland Central Member of Parliament George Wright his place in the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), local human rights coalition Advocates Network is slamming the independent politician’s continued silence and inaction.

Advocates Network, in a statement on Wednesday (April 6), noted with chagrin that, one year to the day of the incident, Wright is yet to publicly confirm or deny whether he was the implicated man assaulting a woman with a stool in the now-viral CCTV footage. 

What’s more, the Jamaican coalition is outright questioning Wright’s suitability to sit in Parliament as Central Westmoreland representative with such an unresolved matter lingering over his name.

Among its recommendations, the Advocates Network is urging the Andrew Holness-led government to put more urgency on the Constitution (Amendment) (Impeachment) Bill tabled by Opposition Leader Mark Golding last year. 

Read full statement below: 

“It is now one year since Member of Parliament (MP) George Wright and Tannisha Singh made independent reports of a “physical altercation” to the police on April 6, 2021. 

Members of the Advocates Network find it DEPLORABLE that, to date, MP Wright has chosen to remain silent rather than to confirm or deny unequivocally that he was the man in the infamous video that was circulated showing a man viciously battering a woman. 

In this regard, we note with consternation that despite PM Holness’ recent statement supporting evidence-based prosecution, which would remove the requirement for the cooperation of domestic violence victims, there has been absolutely no progress on this urgent matter.

We still question MP Wright’s integrity, honesty and suitability to sit in Parliament as the people’s representative with this unresolved, lingering matter. 

Mr Wright is a member of the Human Resources and Social Development Committee of the House. The Minutes of these meetings record matters sensitive to women such as abortion, making it easy to see domestic violence matters being forwarded to this committee. 

Minutes also record discussion of a Values programme for youth. 

How can an MP preside over such affairs with this shadow over him? What confidence can we have?

We, therefore, urge Jamaicans to demand more from our political representatives. 

Specifically, demand that Parliamentarians:

1. Debate the Motion of Suspension that was tabled in the House of Representatives one year ago, in April 2021, and send the matter to the Ethics Committee for the issue to be examined and a decision taken so as to bring closure to this matter in Parliament;

2. Institute the Code of Conduct for Parliamentarians as promised in 2009 under Vision 2030; and

3. Debate the Constitution (Amendment) (Impeachment) Bill tabled in 2021.

The moral fortitude and standard of behaviour of political leaders are critical in shaping the moral fibre of our society. We urge the people of Jamaica to demand more from Parliamentarians. The future of our representative democracy is in our hands!”

The George Wright scandal, a torrid affair, largely only amounted to his resignation as a JLP member on June 4—nearly two months after the MP and his common-law wife initially filed separate reports with the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF). 

A mum JLP leadership placed Wright on a month’s paid leave and accepted his wish to part ways with the organisation following a high-level meeting on April 16, 2021.

The JCF, in its investigation, concluded that without the cooperation of Wright and Singh the probe could go no further. 

Wright, who has refused to comment on the incident, was never arrested or charged.

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