Editorial | Did George Wright admit wrong?

That the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) has been rolling the wicket for its political rehabilitation of George Wright is clear. But the party's effort, especially the latest attempt by the health minister, Christopher Tufton, to morally blackmail Jamaicans into complicity with the action is not only vulgar, but displays ignorance – perhaps feigned – of the tenets of restorative justice. It also attempts to escape accountability.

Jamaicans should have none of it until, and unless, Mr Wright does the right thing. For the forgiveness being asked for can't come before a public acknowledgement of wrong.

George Wright is the member of parliament for Westmoreland Central, having won the seat on the JLP's ticket in the September 2020 general election. Nine months later, he ostensibly resigned from the party in the midst of an embarrassing uproar over whether Mr Wright was the man captured in a viral video battering a woman with a fist and a stool. That was at a time of heightened national concern for rising violence against women.

Mr Wright has never publicly confirmed that he is the person. But neither has he denied it, despite the many allegations against him and the impugning of his character. Indeed, the JLP's general secretary, Horace Chang, reported that when Mr Wright was directly asked if he was the individual in the video, he didn't give a straight answer.

What, however, is known is that coincidental with the video's appearance, Mr Wright and his partner, Taneisha Singh, separately made complaints to the police of assault against each other, which the constabulary couldn't pursue, ostensibly because of the parties' failure subsequently to cooperate with the investigation.

MIXED SIGNALS

Mr Wright, however, was suspended from the JLP's parliamentary caucus; took a leave of absence from Parliament to attend his affairs; and supposedly resigned from the JLP after his early return to the House. His resignation notwithstanding, Mr Wright declared his continued support for the principles of the Jamaica Labour Party and programmes and policies of the Government.

Fundamentally, Mr Wright didn't go far, if anywhere. And the JLP has given mixed signals about his future in the party.

In September J.C. Hutchinson, a state minister and a key member of the party's organisation in western Jamaica, referred to Mr Wright as an “independent Labourite” who had taken “a short leave” from the party, but would “soon be back”. Dr Chang downplayed the assertion.

Others, such as Everald Warmington, the minister with responsibility for roads and infrastructure, have either played up Mr Wright's virtue as an MP, or, like Mr Hutchinson, suggested that it was only a matter of time before he returned to the fold.

Indeed, recently, Oneil Russell, Mr Wright's declared spiritual adviser and confidant, reported that the MP would soon reapply for membership in the JLP and expected to be “reunited with his former colleagues”.

Earlier this month, the messaging moved from the hustings to the chamber of the House. During Mr Wright's contribution to the state of the constituency debate, two JLP female MPs, Tova Hamilton and Ann-Marie Vaz, the wife of senior minister Daryl Vaz, crossed to the Opposition side of the chamber to sit close to Mr Wright for his presentation.

Dr Chang, the general secretary, again advised against reading too much into the women's action. Neither has directly commented on the matter, but Ms Vaz tweeted: “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that,” quoting the American movie producer Tyler Perry.

WHERE IS GEORGE WRIGHT'S VOICE?

Christopher Tufton addressed the rehabilitation of George Wright more frontally last week in a speech at the conference of the JLP's Westmoreland Central constituency party, where Mr Wright is the MP. Said Dr Tufton: “... If George Wright has made peace with his God and those he has transgressed against, who are we to judge George Wright ... . We live in a predominantly Christian country and the basic tenets of Christianity are about forgiveness, love, and empathy.”

Dr Tufton, of course, doesn't have it all right. George Wright's spiritual leader may indeed have gone to the “public square” to declare Mr Wright's “peace with God for his transgressions”. But where is George Wright in his own voice, if he has one?

Should this be a suggestion that Mr Wright admitted to being the man in the video – which we don't know he has done – the videoed victim of the battering wasn't the sole injured party in this affair, who deserves justice.

The point is, George Wright, MP, isn't a private individual whose public conduct is of no account to Jamaicans, including his constituents. The opposite is true.

Indeed, the action of the man in the video was abhorrent to the collective conscience of Jamaicans. It did harm to all of us. It would be unworthy of any member of parliament, including Mr Wright, if it was him. So, if Mr Wright believes that there is a transgression for which he must repent, and that transgression is what was captured in the viral video, he must acknowledge the hurt and harm not only to the immediate victim, but to all Jamaica. It is then, collectively, that Jamaica can forgive.

The point is, being a member of parliament ought to be serious business for which people holding the office should be accountable. Specious meanderings, such as being promoted by Dr Tufton and his party, only demean the office.