Tacky High School Principal Errol Bascoe has resigned as the People’s National Party (PNP) candidate for St Mary Western after a resident of Gayle in the parish filed a damaging report about him with the police.

According to the police, 23-year-old Andre Green, who was previously arrested on a warrant, filed the report on March 2, outlining an alleged incident involving himself and Green.

Last Friday, in a letter submitting his resignation to PNP President Mark Golding, Bascoe denied the allegations.

“A recent scurrilous and malicious allegation has been levelled against me, which I vehemently deny. I am innocent of this false accusation, and I am confident that the truth will prevail in due course,” he wrote.

“However, recognising the potential impact on the party’s reputation and the importance of prioritising its interests, I have chosen to step aside as the candidate for Western St Mary. This decision will also allow me to dedicate my full attention to addressing this matter and clearing my good name,” Bascoe added.

“I know that, in time, justice will be served, and my good name will be preserved,” he further wrote.

Bascoe’s resignation comes a week after Golding axed Dennis Meadows as the party’s candidate for Trelawny Northern following backlash for his public endorsement of lottery scamming during the final leg of the campaign for the February 26, 2024 Local Government Elections.

Meadows’ utterances were captured in a video of him speaking at a PNP meeting.

Pointing out that he viewed lottery scamming as a form of reparation, Meadows said his only issue with it is when the ill-gotten gains are squandered.

“Let me tell you straight up, and mi can speak openly. I have no problem with a man if him wah chop. Because dem chop us during slavery, so nothing wrong if we chop dem back,” he said as supporters cheered in agreement. “My only problem with chopping is that when you bingo, and you score, use the money wisely.”

In Jamaica, a “choppa” refers to a person involved in scamming.

Although Meadows issued an apology and withdrew the comments, telling the Jamaica Observer that he “misspoke”, Golding said that his “continuation as the candidate is untenable in light of his egregious remarks on the platform, given that scamming is one of Jamaica’s most serious national security challenges”.

Golding said the sacking was a warning to all who serve the PNP under his leadership that the party is demanding higher standards of accountability.

“Jamaica will no longer tolerate weak, unprincipled leaders who say one thing but do another. Jamaicans deserve better, and I will give it to them,” Golding said.