Michael Abrahams | The PNP – divided and fractured

It was Labour Day. Like most of the population, I was under house arrest, having been confined to my dwelling from 2 p.m. the day before. During my travels through some social media pages, I came across an intriguing video. A PNP (People’s National Party) blogger who goes by the name ‘Stak Nats’ had gone ‘live’ on Facebook, ranting against some persons in the party who had ticked her off. She had apparently gone live several hours before, but her presentation was recorded, and I decided to watch.

Apparently, on a social media page, two Comrades had posted a photograph of her, along with some comments she claimed were defamatory and false. She announced that if they did not take down the post in 30 minutes, they would feel her wrath and she would make some shocking revelations. To show how serious she was, she posted a letter allegedly signed by a young woman who claimed she had sexual relations with PNP General Secretary Dayton Campbell when she was 15 years old. The letter was apparently signed and stamped by a justice of the peace. Along with the letter, she stated that if the offending post was not taken down, she will “dash out EVERY FRIGGING THING” she knows. The post was taken down, but that did not stop her from embarking on a rant in which she eviscerated Campbell, PNP President Mark Golding, and Peter Bunting (members of Rise United, the group led by Bunting that had challenged Peter Phillip’s presidency), calling them traitors and saboteurs, and making it clear that Golding cannot lead her.

MOUTHFUL RANT

The rant was a mouthful, but it did not quite prepare me for what hit me next. The following day, while leaving my office and going through my messages, I came across an audio clip of some breaking news. The story stated that Karen Cross, a PNP blogger who was sued by Campbell, along with fellow PNP bloggers Natalee Stack (Stack Nats) and Michelle Stern, for defamation after claiming he had sex with underage girls, produced in her defence, documents allegedly signed by three young women who claimed Campbell had sexual relations with them before they reached the age of consent.

Campbell responded by dismissing the claims as “baseless and scurrilous”. In an official statement, Campbell stated that when the allegations first surfaced online, the PNP referred the matter to the police, who stated that they “found no basis to the allegations that were made”. The police further noted that Ms Cross “provided no evidence to substantiate the claims that she made, nor was she able to provide any person interested in making a complaint ...” Campbell went on to state that all three statements by his alleged victims were heavily redacted and edited by Ms Cross to hide pertinent information in the document, adding that “the justice(s) of the peace who allegedly witnessed these statements would be obliged under the Child Care and Protection Act to bring these matters to the attention of the police, yet the police remain unaware of any such letters”.

In closing, Campbell referred to Cross as “a known political mercenary” who had been charged with stealing electricity, suspended as a justice of the peace, and forced to resign from her leadership post in the PNP Youth Organisation after being embroiled in a US visa scandal. He concludes that the accusations of Cross et al are part of a well-funded political agenda to undermine him and the party leader.

NEITHER CONFIRM NOR DENY

The PNP later issued a statement declaring that it stands by its Campbell, calling the allegations “vile and unsupported”. However, the decision to stand by him was apparently not unanimous. In a radio interview, the PNP’s Basil Waite could neither confirm nor deny that the party’s four vice-presidents (Damion Crawford, Mikael Phillips, Kenneth Wykeham McNeill, and Phillip Paulwell) did not agree with the decision to support its general secretary. Interestingly, all four had supported Lisa Hanna during her bid for party leadership against Mark Golding.

And the division continues, with some Comrades calling for Campbell to step aside, and others insisting that he stand firm. Perusal of WhatsApp political groups and social media pages has revealed varied opinions and concerns of Comrades, from a desire to separate “insurgents” from the party and characterising members of One PNP (the group supporting Peter Phillips in the leadership challenge against him by Peter Bunting) as people specialising in “failure and anarchy,” to accusations of Golding not doing enough to unite its members. Interestingly, the Facebook page, Fair and Balanced Jamaica, a popular platform for Comrades, has been removed from the social media site for not following “community standards”.

In addition to the verbal shade being thrown back and forth in the party, some actions performed in silence are difficult to ignore, such as Lisa Hanna’s absence from Mark Golding’s swearing-in, and Peter Phillips’ absence from Mark Golding’s Budget Debate presentation, although he was in attendance at the presentations given by Julian Robinson, Phillip Paulwell and Hanna.

As for Cross et al, they are still at it. After the media reported on the letters signed by the alleged victims, Cross, who recently declared that she was prepared to “burn down” the party, openly jeered Campbell on her Facebook page, referring to him as a “pervert” and “scum,” adding that the revelations were not a “bombshell, but “only the shell,” adding, “your judgement is nigh”. Stak Nats is at it too, this time with Peter Bunting in her cross hairs, accusing him of a range of misdeeds.

The party is a train wreck, with its engine derailed by power struggles, selfish agendas, grudges, disharmony, and vitriol. When will it get back on track?

Michael Abrahams is an obstetrician and gynaecologist, social commentator, and human-rights advocate. Email feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and michabe_1999@hotmail.com, or Twitter @mikeyabrahams.