Young Jamaica, the youth arm of the governing Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), rejects as untruthful and lacking credibility a claim by People’s National Party (PNP) Spokesman on Health Dr Alfred Dawes that he has no affiliation to JACDEN Pharma and Medical Services.

Young Jamaica recently demanded that Dr Dawes publicly clarify whether a company owned by a PNP parliamentarian is among the companies alluded to in an audit of the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI), which had allegedly unlawfully benefited from an inappropriate tax exemption.

Young Jamaica also questioned whether Dr Dawes was ever a founding member or partner of such a company, and whether he has had any professional or personal association with the entity in question.

In a move which is being interpreted in some circles as throwing his PNP colleague under the bus, Dr Dawes entered into the public domain the name of a company owned by East Central St Andrew Member of Parliament, the PNP’s Dennis Gordon and stated: “I have no affiliation with JACDEN, but they knew this.”

Young Jamaica said that up to Monday, January 19, Dr Dawes’ image remained listed on the website of JACDEN as a consultant, under a heading entitled ‘Meet Our Founders and Partners’. 

Young Jamaica is of the view that in these circumstances, Dr Dawes’ move to distance himself from his PNP colleague’s company cannot be believed as the truth.

Young Jamaica recalls that it is a matter of public record that a few years ago, Dr Dawes denied he was poisoned and blamed food allergies on his hospitalisation but later when it became politically convenient to do so, he then admitted he was poisoned and blamed fellow comrades.

“His current denial about being affiliated with JACDEN is neither credible nor trustworthy. He does not have a history of being truthful. Young Jamaica also views Dr Dawes’ commentary on the Auditor General’s report as disingenuous, pretentious and a clear case of bad acting,” Young Jamaica said in a release.

Young Jamaica renews its call for the Opposition Spokesman on Health to publicly clarify whether a company owned by a PNP parliamentarian is among the companies alluded to in an audit of the UHWI, which allegedly benefited from an inappropriate tax exemption.

Young Jamaica also reiterates its stance that, following the Auditor General’s findings arising from a performance audit of the UHWI, all follow-up investigations must be allowed to proceed without interference, and the chips fall where they may.