KINGSTON, Jamaica– Shadow Minister for Gender Affairs, Persons with Disabilities & Inclusion, Denise Daley, has condemned the governing Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) for re-admitting George Wright as a party member.

“Today, I stand here to condemn the Jamaica Labour Party and to say to them, find something within you to be ashamed of, and if you can’t find anything else, use this as the reason for reinstalling George Wright as a member of the Jamaica Labour Party. It is shameful and disgraceful. You cannot fool the Jamaican people. They have been deceived by you many, many times, and this time around, they will make the right decision because they understand that you are going a little too far,” Daley said.

She was speaking at a press conference at the People’s National Party (PNP) headquarters on Tuesday.

The shadow minister said the JLP had gone back on its word regarding the protection of women’s rights.

“It is a shame and a disgrace upon women. I feel so ashamed. Why do I feel so ashamed? I’m ashamed because we have worked tirelessly on the laws to ensure that Jamaican women, especially, are better protected against domestic violence. We have just passed the laws, and there has not even been any public education yet to teach our nation about how they should behave, especially our men. Today, I stand because the Jamaica Labour Party has gone back on its word about protecting women’s rights. I know that Jamaicans are not foolish. You cannot give them a six for a nine. I know they understand that the People’s National Party has always believed in women. That is one of the reasons why we have chosen our leader, one of our prime ministers, the only female prime minister to have served us so far, Portia Simpson-Miller, because we believe in women’s rights and women’s justice,” she argued.

Wright was embroiled in a domestic violence controversy two years ago after a man was seen in a video hitting a woman with a stool. He subsequently resigned from the JLP.

Wright, who is the Member of Parliament for Westmoreland Central, was reportedly re-admitted to the JLP after undergoing counselling sessions.

“I want to say to George Wright, you were seen in a video, and I know you’re not having a Shaggy moment claiming it wasn’t you. You should come out to the Jamaican people before you take your seat on the government side and publicly apologise for the act. Also, tell us why we should believe you should go back there and why you should continue as a legislator. On behalf of all the women and girls of Jamaica, I want to say to you today, rest assured that when the People’s National Party comes to government, we will ensure we do not play lip service. We will make sure that you are safe and protected,” Daley said.

Daley also questioned the silence of Gender Affairs Minister Olivia Grange on the matter.

Meanwhile, PNP chairman Dr Angela Brown Burke accused the JLP of deceiving the Jamaican people by presenting George Wright as an independent candidate while he supported their agenda.

“Today, we are going to talk about the JLP’s deception, the big lie, in presenting George Wright as an independent Member of Parliament while he was clearly supporting their agenda. We said in Parliament over and over again, because we were very clear, that he never acted in any way to support this claim of independence. This was a farce promoted by every JLP member sitting in Parliament. This was a shame perpetuated by a Parliament with the largest number of women in our history, making it an even deeper shame,” she said.

She said the re-admittance of Wright is a punch to the gut for every survivor of domestic violence.

“We can’t allow that to remain, because this move of bringing George Wright back as a current Member of Parliament for the Jamaica Labour Party, after four years of silence, is a slap in the face of all women and girls. It is another punch to the gut for every survivor of domestic violence, particularly those who are survivors of intimate partner violence. It is a devastating blow to our young girls who hope they won’t become part of the statistics of the 30 per cent of women in Jamaica who experience gender-based violence. And it certainly doesn’t help those men who are embarrassed when we talk about the statistics that one in three women, basically, have experienced physical violence by a male partner. It doesn’t help,” Brown Burke said.

She said this move does nothing to encourage reporting violence against women through formal channels.

“What is worse is that this also does nothing to encourage reporting violence against women and girls to formal channels. And bear in mind that this is a country where 63 per cent of individuals who experience this kind of violence never report it. An MP sitting in Parliament for four years pretending that he did nothing wrong, with his members supporting him time and time again, as if they, too, don’t know that he did something wrong. In fact, what has he said now? I think he has outgrown it and therefore turned over a new leaf. That’s not enough. Where is the public apology? Where is the admission of guilt and wrongdoing? Where is the remorse? I don’t know,” she said.

Brown Burke further called on Jamaicans to demand higher standards from its leaders on matters relating to gender-based violence.

“I am saying to you today that the PNP will continue to fight for a Jamaica where women are respected, where they feel safe, and where they are heard. In doing that, we are also calling on all Jamaicans, men and women, to stand resolutely against any hypocrisy and doublespeak when it comes to gender-based violence or intimate partner violence. We are asking you to demand higher standards from all your leaders, and in particular, from those of us who represent you in Parliament,” she added.

READ: George Wright re-admitted to JLP following ‘mitigating actions’, says party