Opposition MPs scoff at Vaz’s mystery letter

Eleven of the 14 opposition members of parliament (MPs) have dismissed as a fib, a claim by government minister Daryl Vaz that all except the party’s chairman, Dr Angela Brown Burke, and President Mark Golding, have signed a letter demanding Golding’s resignation if he continues the push back against the salary increases to politicians and insists on a rollback.

They want Vaz to produce the letter or withdraw the comments he made last Sunday while at a Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) internal meeting. He told Labourites that only Golding and Brown Burke did not sign the letter.

On the same day, another Cabinet minister, Dr Christopher Tufton, accused the People’s National Party (PNP) of using artificial intelligence (AI) to spread disinformation about the JLP, and particularly about its leader, Prime Minister Andrew Holness.

Tufton, at the time, urged Vaz to bring legislation to Parliament to tackle the use of AI to spread false information.

Last week, the 11 PNP MPs contacted called Vaz a fibber. The three who were not contacted were Hugh Graham and Dr Peter Phillips, who are set to leave representational politics, and Dr Morais Guy, who was overseas.

The MPs told The Gleaner that the PNP was not the party of unsigned letters, reminding that two courts ruled against the JLP leader when he used unsigned letters to remove two former senators, one of whom was Tufton.

The PNP president said no such letter giving him an ultimatum on his stance on salary increases exists, and that it “was a figment of Vaz’s imagination, irresponsible political rhetoric, and failed artificial intelligence”.

“There is no such letter. It is just a silly, mischievous fabrication being perpetrated by a member of a government whose political fortunes are in deep decline,” Golding told The Gleaner.

Brown Burke said the comment was rubbished by all MPs who were present at the last parliamentary group meeting.

“I am convinced it is political mischief, and it will increase as we move nearer to elections,” she told The Gleaner. She added, however, that some may find it unnerving.

Senior PNP parliamentarian Fitz Jackson said it was a tale being spun by Vaz.

“I know nothing about any such letter. From where I am, Vaz’s comments are those old propaganda for division and confusion,” he said in response to Gleaner queries.

“I do not know where Daryl Vaz gets his information from. I have never seen a letter like that, neither have I ever signed one. I am certain if you speak to the others they will say the same,” said MP Denise Daley.

“Their propaganda machine is up, so I don’t expect anything better. But I have not signed any such letter, and even if one is produced, I will not be signing anything. Unity is what the party is focused on right now,” she stated.

“There is no truth to it. No letter exists,” said MP Natalie Neita Garvey.

“I don’t know of what Mr Vaz is talking,” said MP Anthony Hylton.

“There is no letter,” said MP Mikael Phillips.

“Mr Vaz is on a frolic on his own. No such thing has occurred,” said MP Phillip Paulwell.

“Daryl is clutching at straws. His actions reek of desperation, but interesting times are ahead,” said MP Lothian Cousins.

MP Lisa Hanna said the burden of proof should be on Vaz to produce the letter.

Vaz did not back down when contacted last week.

When The Gleaner asked for a copy of the letter, he said his sources were impeccable.

“My sources are always impeccable, and I know yours, too. It is a fact, hence the demands by Golding have gone quiet,” he said, when told that nearly all MPs have denied knowledge of or signing such a letter.

With a 230 per cent increase in salary from April 2021 to the corresponding period in 2024, MPs’ take-home pay will move from $4.3 million to $14.2 million per year. Effective April 1, 2023, MPs will receive $12.5 million each year.

Golding, in opposing the high salaries now paid to the political directorate, has said it was unconscionable when other public-sector workers did not fare anywhere near as well as the political class.

Golding has named several charities that will benefit from 80 per cent of his salary increase. He said he will take 20 per cent, in keeping with what public-sector workers received.

Nearly all MPs said they were bracing for more disinformation to be spread by the JLP.

“Expect more of this kind of nonsense from them,” said Golding.

General Secretary Dr Dayton Campbell echoed the sentiments of his colleagues, calling it political mischief-making.

“Vaz is doing what Vaz does, which is to make mischief, and it has everything to do with the declining fortunes of the JLP. It is palpable desperation, and failed artificial intelligence because, at the same meeting, Tufton asked Vaz to bring legislation to deal with its misuse and the maligning of the political process,” he told The Gleaner.

“I pray that this rhetoric does not get worse and some real intellect can be applied to the process to get things done. We fight this type of rhetoric with the truth, and we will always rely on that,” Campbell said.

At the same time, he argued that there are currently several clips on social media platforms showing the prime minister sharing perspectives, when in Opposition, which sharply contradict perspectives he now expresses on varying issues.

One private-sector leader has called for the political parties to keep the already-started campaigning clean and to tone down the rhetoric.

Metry Seaga, president of the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica, said Jamaican politicians are no different from politicians anywhere else in the world.

“Being in election mode is not a bad thing, as long as the discussions are truthful, civil and constructive. The closer we get to the general election, I’m sure the rhetoric will ramp up,” he said, in response to The Gleaner.

“As I have said in the past, we need to remember that we are all working for the betterment of our beloved country and its people, and we must put Jamaica first. Our politics has come a long way and matured significantly and I urge that it continues,” he said.

erica.virtue@gleanerjm.com