Tufton accuses PNP of ‘desperate, last-ditch attempt’ to smear JLP

By: Corey Robinson

Image caption: Dr Christopher Tufton, the Jamaica Labour Party’s Campaign Committee chairman, addressing the media during a press conference held yesterday at the party’s Belmont Road, St Andrew headquarters.

Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Campaign Committee Chairman Dr Christopher Tufton yesterday chided the Opposition for embarking on what he dubbed ‘angry and desperate campaigning’, warning that the JLP is prepared to push back, inside and outside the court system, against defamatory statements made against its members.

Tufton issued the warning during a JLP press conference held yesterday at the party’s headquarters on Belmont Road in St Andrew. 

Reviewing Tuesday night’s election debate on the nation’s economy, Tufton cited accusations meted out by the PNP’s debate team member Peter Bunting about members of the JLP being involved in illicit enrichment, while “citing numbers and pointing fingers, if not explicitly, implicitly”.

Tufton argued that in some instances on social media, questions and generalised statements have been directed at him and the prime minister.

“For us, it comes across in no uncertain way as a desperate, last-ditch attempt by the PNP to smear the Jamaica Labour Party as an organisation and, indeed, its members,” said Tufton, who himself is facing defamation lawsuit filed by veteran PNP politician and King’s Counsel K. D. Knight in relation a ‘doctored’ audio clip played during a JLP mass rally in Half-Way Tree, St Andrew. 

“They have also sought to weaponise, whether it’s the Integrity Commission or the report from the Integrity Commission, or they are just rumour-mongering in order to win votes,” Tufton said yesterday.

“We know there is a lot at stake on September 3. We understand that. They have been in the wilderness for a while and are desperate. They have pursued a campaign that is angry. I’ve never discerned a campaign ... with so much anger coming from a platform as I’ve seen coming from the orange army,” he continued, while stating that the JLP and its members have tried to refrain from responding.

He noted that while some of the talk – and even jabs aimed at evoking laughter and interest – was expected, at the end of the day, “When you make allegations about persons and challenge their reputations, it is very important that we respond to that; and, indeed, if it becomes libellous, then actions should be taken to let the courts decide if you think that you have not.”

He added that allegations and finger-pointing by the PNP regarding the ‘Elicit 11’ are baseless, and that the JLP rejects those allegations outrightly. 

Tufton appealed to the Jamaican people to “not be distracted by this desperate attempt to gain traction from a political organisation that is clearly fading”.

Meanwhile, at yesterday’s conference, Tufton also rebutted criticisms from PNP Opposition Spokesman on Finance Julian Robinson surrounding the lengthy delays plaguing the completion of the controversial Cornwall Regional Hospital in St James - a facility he described as “near death” when the JLP assumed office and which “went into a coma” shortly after.

“This idea or insinuation that the cost related to this fix is somehow a corrupt act, I want to reject outrightly, because this is not the case,” he said, noting that costs for repairs at Cornwall Regional were done by local and international experts, and not the Government of Jamaica.

“Those costs are itemised. Every stone, every nail, every window, door and flooring, and every piece of waste material. So, I want to disabuse the Jamaican people, whoever may be inclined to think on what has been insinuated, that we don’t determine costs of these projects,” he said.

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