ST MARY, Jamaica — A political dispute erupted Thursday at the opening of the Belfield Health Centre after Minister of Health and Wellness Christopher Tufton invited former Member of Parliament (MP) Dr Norman Dunn to address the gathering, despite Dunn not being listed on the official programme.

The move triggered heated exchanges between supporters of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) and the People’s National Party (PNP).

Supporters of Dunn were vocal outside the centre, crediting him for pushing the Belfield Health Centre project to completion. In contrast, Brown emphasised community effort led by residents and late former MP Dr Winston Green, a dental surgeon who died suddenly in 2017 during his second term elected on a PNP ticket.

“The people of Belfield protested, organised, appealed and consistently raised their voices about the unacceptable condition of the former clinic,” Brown said.

He pointed out that the advocacy began under Green and continued through sustained community effort until the vision became a reality.

“This facility belongs to the people of Belfield. It is their victory,” Brown said.

The tension escalated when Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr Christopher Tufton invited Dr Dunn to speak, and agitated supporters almost clashed physically after Dunn’s remarks.

Brown told Observer Online that he was concerned that, at the very end of the programme when the planned agenda indicated it was time for the ceremonial ribbon cutting, Tufton invited Dunn to address the gathering although the former MP was not on the programme.

“While I anticipated a brief greeting, the remarks unfortunately shifted into a political direction. The audience was informed that the ‘history’ of the project would be outlined, and the tone became partisan in nature,” Brown said.

He emphasised that the people of St Mary South East have already exercised their democratic right in last year’s general election.

“At any given time, there is one duly elected Member of Parliament. Political contests have their place and when that time comes, we will meet in the political field. But during the moments of governance and community development, politics must not overshadow progress,” Brown chided.

However, he was determined that the issue would not overshadow the opening of the health centre.

“Delivering for the people, protecting the dignity of the office entrusted to me and ensuring that development in South East St Mary continues without unnecessary political distractions [is my focus],” said Brown.