Dalrymple-Philibert to stand trial in statutory declarations case next March
Published:Saturday | December 14, 2024 | 12:10 AMAndre Williams/Staff Reporter
Newly re-elected Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Member of Parliament for Trelawny Southern, Marisa Dalrymple-Philibert, will face trial on March 31 next year in connection with allegations of false statements in her statutory declarations.
Her legal team – consisting of King’s Counsel Peter Champagnie, Neco Pagon, and Olivia Plowright – has set aside three days to expedite the judicial process.
Dalrymple-Philibert is before the courts in relation to a September 2023 Integrity Commission (IC) report that recommended she be slapped with eight criminal charges for making a false statement in her statutory declaration filings between 2015 and 2021.
The IC determined that she breached the Parliament (Integrity of Members) Act and the Integrity Commission Act after she omitted from her statutory declarations for six years the fact that she purchased a 2015 Mercedes-Benz, and used her 20 per cent duty concession privilege to acquire the vehicle.
Dalrymple-Philibert resigned as MP and House Speaker on September 21 last year over the matter. However, she was re-elected to represent Trelawny Southern in a by-election on November 22 and resumed sitting in the House of Representatives this month.
Yesterday, Parish Judge Leighton Morris denied an application by Dalrymple-Philibert’s defence to dismiss the case, which alleged procedural abuse by the IC in preferring charges.
Champagnie proposed February 7, 2025, for case management, emphasising his commitment to ensuring a streamlined process. He urged the prosecution to disclose its intended witnesses on or before that date.
‘THIS APPLICATION MUST BE REFUSED’
Judge Morris, while commending both parties for providing relevant legal guidance, addressed the defence’s argument regarding procedural fairness. He noted that the IC has the authority to regulate its processes under Section 26 of the IC Act.
“It is impossible to conclude that the wrong procedure was followed such that the integrity of our justice system or systems of justice is in danger of being undermined such as to activate the court’s mode of defence,” Judge Morris stated.
Dressed in all black, Dalrymple-Philibert, an attorney by profession, listened attentively from the prisoner’s dock as Judge Morris concluded: “This matter does not meet the criteria for a stay of proceedings, and under the circumstances, this application must be refused.”
The decision was accepted by Dalrymple-Philibert’s legal team, with Champagnie remarking, “Some of Your Honour’s findings in terms of rationality suggest to me that some issues and questions can only be answered by way of trial.”