Marisa Dalrymple-Philibert and Duane Smith take seats in Parliament

Marisa Dalrymple-Philibert this afternoon took the Oath of Allegiance in Gordon House as she returned to the legislature little more than 14 months after resigning as Speaker in the wake of a damning report from the Integrity Commission setting out breaches of the anti-corruption laws.

Duane Smith, a new Government lawmaker, was also sworn in having succeeded Dr Nigel Clarke as the Member of Parliament for St Andrew North Western.

Both Dalrymple-Philibert and Smith were successful in the November 22 parliamentary by-elections which were not contested by the Opposition People's National Party (PNP).

After being sworn in the former speaker and Smith were greeted by both Government MPs as well as Opposition lawmakers.

Dalrymple-Philibert resigned as MP and House Speaker on September 21 last year, amid a damning report from the Integrity Commission, which recommended that she face eight criminal charges for making a false statement in her statutory declarations.

She was accused of omitting a Mercedes-Benz motor vehicle from her filings between 2015 and 2021.

The controversial use of a 20 per cent duty concession to acquire it was also in contention.

This month, the court is expected to rule on whether Dalrymple-Philibert will have a case to answer in that matter.

In the November 22 by-election, Dalrymple-Philibert polled 4,146 votes against independent candidate Lloyd Gillings who received 1,434 votes.

At the same time, Smith received 1,863 votes to independent candidate Carl Marshall's 111.

 Follow The Gleaner on X, formerly Twitter, and Instagram @JamaicaGleaner and on Facebook @GleanerJamaica. Send us a message on WhatsApp at 1-876-499-0169 or email us at onlinefeedback@gleanerjm.com or editors@gleanerjm.com.