KINGSTON, Jamaica — Rae Town Councillor Rosalie Hamilton has issued a cease and desist to Kingston Central Member of Parliament (MP) Donovan Williams as the public spat fuelled by a series of leaked voice notes escalates.

The cease and desist, obtained by Observer Online, was dated Thursday, March 26, and alleges that Williams has engaged in repeated and unwelcome contact which has caused Hamilton to fear for her safety.

It comes the same day that Williams’ attorneys filed a defamation suit against Hamilton in the Supreme Court requesting damages and an injunction to restrict Hamilton from what they describe as continued defamatory comments.

READ: MP Williams files lawsuit against Councillor Hamilton seeking damages, injunction

In her letter, Hamilton demanded that Williams immediately cease and desist from any and all direct or indirect contact with her; refrain from contacting her through third parties and attending or approaching any location where he knows or ought reasonably to know she will be present; and cease any conduct which may reasonably be construed as harassment, intimidation or an attempt to interfere with her peace and security.

Hamilton’s attorneys noted that should the alleged contact continue, Hamilton could pursue legal action and requested Williams’ written compliance within 24 hours.

In another correspondence, directly responding to an earlier cease and desist issued by MP Williams on March 24, Hamilton’s attorneys claimed that his characterisation of her statements as defamatory was itself defamatory.

Williams’ cease and desist had demanded an apology and retraction for the content of the voice notes shared in the group, of which both Hamilton and the MP were participants.

Citing a “reckless disregard for the truth”, Hamilton’s attorneys said her statements are grounded in her direct, first-hand experience as the councillor for the Rae Town Division.

It continued, “As an elected representative, our client owes a duty of absolute transparency to her political group and stakeholders. The communications in question were an exercise of that duty, aimed at ensuring accountability and the proper administration of public resources within the constituency.”

Hamilton went on to deny that she had published or authorised the dissemination of any material to TikTok and maintained that she was “legally and practically disabled from removing content she did not upload”.

The attorneys expressed hope that “good sense will prevail”, adding that a “public trial would necessitate the exhaustive disclosure and discovery processes inherent in such proceedings”.