JLP says gov't will not be bullied on House Speaker appointment

The Jamaica Labour Party says it strongly rejects what it calls an attempt by the Opposition People's National Party to bully the governing administration into excluding two "eminently qualified women" from consideration for the post of Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Members of Parliament are to be sworn in today.

On Wednesday evening, the PNP said it would not support the reappointment of either Marisa Dalrymple-Philibert or Juliet Holness to the position of Speaker of the House, citing issues with their past leadership.

However, JLP General Secretary Dr Horace Chang has hit back saying the statement to the media from the PNP Chairman, Dr Angela Brown Burke, raised "baseless and spurious concerns" and was "out of order and most inappropriate".

"While it would be irregular for the appointment of the Speaker to not be supported by the Opposition Party, let me serve clear notice that the Jamaica Labour Party will not take directives from the PNP or any group as we execute our new mandate to govern Jamaica with confidence, purpose and humility. We will not be dictated to by the Opposition party concerning the positioning of two very capable women who were recently re-elected by the people with large majorities in their respective constituencies," Chang said in his own statement to the media.

Chang said "It is clear that the Opposition Party has not learnt any lessons from their pursuit of negative politicking which did not find favour with the people of Jamaica on September 3, 2025. The Opposition Party's statement opposing the possible appointment as Speaker of two eminently qualified Jamaican women, who have in the past served well in the role of House Speaker, is not only inappropriate but smacks of misogyny and arrogance."

The PNP has asserted that in recent years, serious concerns have arisen regarding the manner in which the business of the House has been conducted, including obfuscation and inordinate delays in the tabling of critical reports to Parliament from the Auditor General and the Integrity Commission, under the leadership of successive Speakers—despite advice to the contrary from the Attorney General’s Chambers.

These issues, the party charges, have eroded trust and confidence in the critical role of the Speaker.

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