Chang Says By-Election Independents are Undercover PNP

An element of gimmickry.

That’s how JLP General Secretary, Dr. Horace Chang, has described the candidates who’ll be taking on his party in Friday’s two parliamentary by-elections.

He was speaking at a media briefing at the JLP’s Belmont Road headquarters on Thursday.

Mahiri Stewart has more.

The Jamaica Labour Party is contesting two parliamentary by-elections tomorrow, Friday, November 22.

One is South Trelawny, the seat Marisa Dalrymple Philibert will be trying to reclaim.

She resigned as MP for the constituency last September after the Integrity Commission recommended that eight charges be laid against her for making false declarations to the body about her ownership of a Mercedes-Benz motorcar.

Mrs. Dalrymple-Phillibert will be taking on independent candidate Lloyd Gillings.

Meanwhile in North West St. Andrew, Duane Smith, is contesting the seat on a JLP ticket against independent candidate Carl Marshall.

The PNP announced earlier that it would not be contesting any parliamentary by elections, opting to focus on the general election constitutionally due by next September.

However, Dr. Chang says despite this announcement, the political history of the two independent candidates is proof that the PNP is up to no good.

Dr. Chang believes the constituents will votes will reflect their reaction to what he describes as gimmickry and mischief by the PNP.

The JLP general secretary warned the country’s politicians against participating in actions that affect Jamaica’s democracy.

In the meantime, JLP Chairman, Robert Montague has denied claims of vote buying by the party in the Aenon Town Division.

The allegations were made by PNP Deputy General Secretary, Nekeisha Burchell, following the PNP’s tour of the division on Tuesday.

Robert Montague, JLP Chairman.

PHOTO: The Observer