KINGSTON, Jamaica — People’s National Party (PNP) candidate for St Mary South Eastern Dr Shane Alexis has filed a defamation lawsuit against Howard Chamberlain, president of the Jamaica Labour Party’s (JLP) youth arm, Young Jamaica.

According to a release from the PNP, attorneys-at-law representing Dr Alexis filed the suit this morning in the Supreme Court against Chamberlain in his capacity as president of the group as well as in his personal capacity, for making and publishing statements which they claim are defamatory of their client.

The suit came on the heels of a letter by Dr Alexis’ lawyers on Saturday to Chamberlain advising him of the defamatory statements in a media release issued under his signature by Young Jamaica and demanded a retraction and apology by 4:00pm, Tuesday (October 17), on terms to be agreed upon by Dr Alexis.

However, the deadline passed and both Chamberlain and Young Jamaica have failed to respond to the request, the PNP said.

Chamberlain had questioned Dr Alexis’ studies in Cuba ostensibly through a scholarship under a bilateral arrangement open to Jamaicans only. Dr Alexis, although living in Jamaica, is a Canadian.