The Government of Jamaica is condemning as disgraceful, unacceptable and inappropriate comments made by Opposition Spokesman on Human Rights, Isat Buchanan, who publicly urged people in Coopers Pen, Trelawny, who were NOT affected by the demolition exercise carried out by a private developer, to pretend they were affected in order to benefit from taxpayer-funded houses.

Speaking on a TikTok Live on Wednesday, Buchanan could be heard urging people to scam the Government in order to benefit from resources which belong to the taxpayers of Jamaica.

Buchanan stated, “So to the people of Trelawny who wake up and dem bulldoze your house. The Prime Minister him haffi lift offa some house and him haffi give uno. All some a uno weh never up deh, uno take off one foot on the bed, bruk it off and carry it up there and say see wah left. Yeah. Chap di line pan dem cause anybody inna dat deh place deh weh dem bulldoze you haffi get back a house out a government and it nah go be no trailer bet sehh a land uno get. Yeah.”

In response, State Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister, Senator Abka Fitz-Henley, said the Opposition Spokesman’s comments are repugnant and unacceptable sentiments emanating from a lawmaker.

Minister Fitz-Henley stated that, “For a member of the shadow cabinet to publicly advocate for people to perpetrate fraud, in order to benefit, without just cause, from resources which belong to the taxpayers of Jamaica is most disgraceful, unacceptable and unbecoming. It is unprincipled and Buchanan should introspect on his remarks and recognise the egregious nature of what he is advocating for.”

Minister Fitz-Henley says he does not expect Opposition Leader, Mark Golding, to hold Buchanan accountable for his irresponsible comments.

The State Minister concluded that “The Opposition Spokesman’s comments are symptomatic of a mentality historically and currently promoted by the Opposition where they often appear to openly support law-breaking and disorder in society. This cannot be the way for lawmakers to conduct ourselves. We should not be promoting anarchy in society, dishonest conduct and certainly should resist any urge to encourage people to seek to obtain benefits via false pretences. However, the sentiments are consistent with the conduct of the Opposition and their promotion of indecency and unlawful conduct. Therefore, I am not expectant of the Opposition Leader holding his spokesman accountable for the wanton advocacy of scamming and violation of the law which Buchanan articulated.”