PNP against reappointment of Juliette Holness, Marisa Dalrymple-Philibert as House Speaker
Toriann Ellis / Our Today
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The People’s National Party (PNP) has voiced strong opposition to the reappointment of Marisa Dalrymple-Phillibert and Juliette Holness to the position of Speaker of the House of Representatives.
PNP Chairperson Dr Angela Brown Burke raised serious concerns about the handling of parliamentary proceedings by the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) in recent years, citing issues of impartiality, delays, and a lack of transparency in the management of critical reports.
Brown Burke underscored the vital role that the speaker must play in ensuring fairness and integrity in Parliament. “The office of speaker must at all times embody impartiality, integrity, and fairness in the management of parliamentary proceedings,” she said.
The statement pointed to a pattern of obfuscation and inordinate delays in the tabling of important reports from the Auditor General and the Integrity Commission, which have occurred under the leadership of successive speakers.
The PNP emphasised that these failures have led to a significant erosion of trust in the speaker’s role, undermining confidence in the democratic processes within the House of Representatives.
The party also noted that the Attorney General’s Chambers had advised against such delays, further calling into question the actions of the officeholder.
The PNP’s rejection of the current candidates is rooted in a desire to ensure that the next speaker upholds the Constitution and acts as an impartial “umpire” of parliamentary proceedings, free from partisan influences.
“Our Parliament cannot afford to repeat past mistakes,” said Burke. “The next speaker must safeguard the integrity of Parliament, act fairly, and ensure balance in their rulings.”
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