Hit the road, George!
Labourites yank stool from under Wright at party meeting
Published:Monday | February 28, 2022 | 12:10 AMAlbert Ferguson/Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
Westmoreland Central Member of Parliament George Wright was unceremoniously thrown out of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Area Council Four meeting held in Savanna-la-Mar in his constituency on Sunday.
Wright, who resigned from the party last year after being sidelined by the JLP’s parliamentary caucus, has suffered public ostracism because he was believed to be the man in a viral social media video who was seen using his fists and a stool to hit a woman.
Both Wright and his common-law partner Taniesha Singh made preliminary reports of a brawl to the police, but an investigation crumbled after both declined to cooperate with the police.
Wright has neither confirmed nor denied that he was the subject of the video.
The underfire MP had turned up for a party meeting at the Godfrey Stewart High School while a private session was under way but was immediately shown the door.
“This is a Labour Party session, and we did not invite any outsiders, more so, one who is not a member of the JLP,” J.C. Hutchinson, a JLP deputy leader, told The Gleaner.
According to Hutchinson, word came to the head table that Wright, who is now an independent MP, had entered the room and Area Four Chairman Floyd Green immediately instructed that he be excluded.
“He was not supposed to be here, and if I had seen him, I would have done the same thing because he is not a member of the Jamaica Labour Party,” Hutchison declared.
When quizzed on his decision to attend the function without an invite, Wright told The Gleaner that he was only passing through.
Just weeks ago, Wright was embarrassed by opposition legislators who rejected his attempt to walk with him while they were heading towards Gordon House for the ceremonial opening of Parliament.
Wright subsequently demanded an apology of Opposition Leader Mark Golding, but that request has been rebuffed.
Although Wright is an independent, he has repeatedly declared that he supports the programmes and policies of the ruling party. JLP functionaries are also said to be still giving Wright logistical and other support.
Also in attendance at the Area Four Council meeting were party Chairman Robert Montague and Deputy General Secretary Homer Davis.
Hutchinson was also able to see the comical side to the incident.
“I am sure he still remembers the rules of the party, so his attendance is strange,” said Hutchinson, with a chuckle. “He must have felt that he was still part of the Labour Party.”