Former JPP Caretakers Accuse Party of Owing them for Work Done in 2020

Two former caretakers of the Jamaica Progressive Party, JPP, are accusing the organisation of failing to pay them for the work they did during its 2020 campaign launch.

The allegations come only days after the political party published an expansive manifesto, promising to use trillions of dollars to revolutionise the delivery of services to Jamaicans if it forms government.

Shaloy Smikle reports.

The JPP was formed in July 2020. It’s led by chairman, Calvert Everton Thomas, and party president, Gilbert Edwards.

It will be the minor party’s first time contesting a general election, having backed out in 2020.

Only last week, the JPP presented a US$2 trillion manifesto on how it will transform the country in the next 50 years should it form government. The eye-popping promises include paying off the national debt, abolishing income tax and forgiving all student loan debts.

The JPP says at the heart of its mission are the values of righteousness, integrity and accountability.

One caretaker, who does not wish to be identified, says she did all the work she was recruited to do when she was selected to work for the party in 2020.

She says she was eventually fired from the job without getting a dollar.

Another caretaker says he too was robbed.

Meanwhile, the Jamaica Progressive Party is rejecting claims it owes some of its former caretakers.

In response to a question from our news centre on the matter, the JPP confirmed that individuals were recruited in 2020. But it says those contracts signed were in preparation for campaign related work.

It says given that the party withdrew from the 2020 general elections before any campaigning commenced, no work was executed under those agreements. As such, it says no payment was made.

The JPP says while it understands that some individuals may have felt entitled to compensation based solely on the contracts, payment was explicitly tied to the completion of actual work.

It says any claims to the contrary are either based on a misunderstanding or are being advanced with unfortunate malice.

The JPP says it remains committed to transparency, accountability and responsible stewardship of resources.