PNP to take legal action against JLP over 'baseless' attacks

The People's National Party (PNP) says it will take legal action to put a stop to what it says is a smear campaign against it by the ruling Jamaica Labour Party (JLP).

The PNP is asserting that the JLP has been making baseless and defamatory attacks on the party, as a desperate attempt to mislead Jamaicans and distract from the government's corruption scandals.

Today, the JLP urged Auditor General Pamela Monroe Ellis to audit all municipal corporations chaired by PNP, alleging widespread corruption at these entities.

READ: JLP calls for audit of PNP-controlled municipal corporations

Further, the ruling party wants Monroe Ellis to zoom in on the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC), where it is alleging that its opposition counterparts are engaged in using tax dollars to fund the election campaigns of caretaker candidates.

Senior member of the JLP's Communication Task Force Marlon Morgan claimed there is an “emerging trend of malfeasance and apparent systemic corrupt and inappropriate use of taxpayers' money at PNP controlled municipal corporations.”

But, the PNP has rejected the allegations.

It added that it has full confidence in PNP General Secretary, Dr Dayton Campbell, and Mayor of Kingston, Andrew Swaby, who it says have been unjustly targeted.

“These malicious and politically motivated accusations—without a shred of credible evidence—are nothing more than a cowardly attempt to deflect attention from the JLP's governance failures and corruption scandals.”

The PNP says those in the JLP or elsewhere in possession of any legitimate evidence should submit it to law enforcement authorities or otherwise cease their attacks.

“We also call on law enforcement agencies to clarify whether any investigation is indeed underway. If such an investigation exists, those involved should be informed through due process rather than subjected to the JLP's political theatre.”

The PNP says it will not be distracted by the JLP's desperate attempts to shift focus from their failures.

“We remain committed to good governance, transparency, and ensuring that public funds serve the Jamaican people —not political deception and corruption.”

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