KINGSTON, Jamaica — Three Government female parliamentarians have issued statements criticising remarks made by People’s National Party (PNP) representative Nekeisha Burchell about House Speaker Juliet Holness during an episode of the podcast The Fix.

According to statements from Senator Kamina Johnson Smith, Fayval Williams, and Juliet Cuthbert Flynn, the remarks were viewed as inappropriate and disrespectful towards the Speaker of the House.

During the podcast discussion, Burchell criticised the Speaker’s enforcement of the Standing Orders of Parliament and stated:

“The Speaker is she likes to be in control. And I mean that kind of control that perhaps you can get away with in a marriage if you want to control your husband, for example. You can’t control grown people sent to Parliament to represent their people. There is disorder and disrespect, but then there’s also control because, you know, it’s not a school mistress. That’s not a school mom with children in a basic school. We were all elected and sent there.”

In response, Senator Kamina Johnson Smith said she was surprised by the comments and described them as “retrogressive”.

“I wondered if I read these reports correctly because I could not believe that in 2026, this is the type of comment being made by a female Member of Parliament,” Johnson Smith stated.

She added that Jamaica has made progress in women’s leadership, while cautioning that such gains should not be undermined.

Johnson Smith also described Juliet Holness as “an exemplary role model” and said she hoped Burchell would receive guidance regarding the comments made.

Member of Parliament for St Andrew Eastern, Fayval Williams also criticised the remarks, stating that they were “inappropriate, disrespectful, and downright low”.

“The country looks to Parliament for leadership. Ms Burchell’s remarks are disappointing and not befitting of the standards a parliamentarian should uphold,” Williams said.

Meanwhile, Cuthbert Flynn said women in leadership positions should not be characterised negatively for enforcing rules and procedures.

“There have been only three women Speakers of the House,” Cuthbert Flynn noted, while adding that women who assert themselves “should not be seen as bullies” or “controlling”.

In additional comments directed at Burchell, Cuthbert Flynn said the criticism of the Speaker was unfair and argued that the Standing Orders of Parliament were being upheld appropriately.

During the same episode of The Fix, Burchell also discussed public reactions to her appearance and said some individuals had asked to touch parts of her body they questioned.

“All real. Yeah, we keep it real. But I’ve actually had people come up and ask me if they can touch it, the (body) parts they aren’t sure of. I have allowed some to touch it. Yeah, yeah, and it didn’t change anything for me. It was fine. I have on occasions allowed it. For the most part, it’s a no, but I have on occasions, especially for children, not underage, but children, younger people who are curious, especially young females who are like, ‘Do I have to do this to be successful?’” Burchell said during the podcast.