KINGSTON, Jamaica – Miss Jamaica World 1993 and Member of Parliament (MP) for South East St Ann, Lisa Hanna, has called on the organisers of Miss Jamaica World 2017 to remove controversial Shaneke Williams from the line-up of finalists selected to vie for the crown at the grand coronation slated for September 23.

The former Miss World yesterday took to social media, where she posted: “Caesar’s wife should be above suspicion… Ought not Miss Jamaica World to be held to a similar standard?”  

“Suspicion alone is enough to disqualify anyone from being “married” … it should be enough to disqualify anyone from competing to represent our country as Miss Jamaica World. The Coordinators of Miss Jamaica World 2017 would be wise to recall the “Caesar Wife principle.” #LisaHannaMJW1993,” she continued in her post on Instagram.

Williams, whose entry in this year’s beauty pageant has been met with strong criticism because she was earlier this year freed of rape charges, yesterday pleaded with Jamaicans to give her a chance.

Read: Give me a chance, Shaneke Williams pleads

“I think it’s unfair to label an accused person as a criminal when there is no criminal record or fact to support the claims that were made against me.”

Williams, who insisted she was innocent, was freed of a charge of aiding and abetting rape and sexual touching in the case of a 15-year-old girl, which was alleged to have occurred in November 2013.

The case was dismissed after the complainant indicated that she did not wish to proceed with the matter.

Since Williams was named among this year’s MJW contestants, many social media users have since questioned the move by Spartan Health Club, which is the franchise staging the pageant, to allow her to compete.

According to the Miss Jamaica World Criteria for entry which is posted on the website of the franchise holder, entrants’ background must not pose the likelihood of bringing the pageant, title of promoters into disrepute.