Hit the road, George! - Pressure mounts on MP to resign amid woman-beating allegations

An alleged eyewitness in the assault of a woman, allegedly by George Wright, the member of parliament (MP) for Westmoreland Central, said he became so furious when he saw what was happening that he had to shout at the lawmaker to stop.

"A grieve so til wen mi si the bwoy a beat upon di woman," the resident told THE STAR yesterday, nearly a week after a man, who the police identify as Wright, heaped licks on the woman.

The police reported that between 1:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 6, Wright travelled to a section of Chester Castle in Hanover, where he attacked the female. Inspector Carl Brown, the officer in charge of crime for the parish, told THE STAR that the woman, who is from the Petersfield area of Westmoreland, made an official report to the Hanover police because the incident took place at a residence in Chester Castle. However, up to press time yesterday, the woman had not pressed any charges. The alleged eyewitness said that he was infuriated by the fact that a lawmaker would raise his hands at a woman.

"Him seh him a MP, and from the start a di year him see seh man a abuse and a kill off di woman dem, an him come a Chester Castle bout him a beat woman like a him pickney," the man said.

"Him need fi resign. Mi a straight Labourite an mi neva vote fi come see no MP a beat up nuh woman. Look how di bwoy a beat di woman, all inna har face wid him fist and wid di stool."

Pressure has been mounting on Wright to resign as MP, a seat he won last September on the Jamaica Labour Party's (JLP) ticket, a first for the party in the constituency since 1980. In a statement yesterday, the party appears to be prepared to expel him, in the event that the allegations against him are confirmed.

Consequences would be swift

Party Leader, Prime Minister Andrew Holness, has instructed general secretary Dr Horace Chang to tell Wright to "immediately make himself available to the police" for questioning.

Chang said that if there is confirmation that Wright conducted himself as is being alleged, the consequences would be swift.

"There is no place in the JLP for any individual who abuses or attacks anyone, in particular women," the JLP said.

Meanwhile, the parliamentary opposition has called for Wright's immediate resignation. Its spokesman on justice and gender affairs, Senator Donna Scott Mottley, said the incident provides the police with an opportunity to demonstrate how seriously they take the issue, and that they are prioritising the safety of women. She said Wright's alleged action is inconsistent with him holding the high office of MP. The call for Wright's resignation is equally loud throughout his constituency. In Shrewsbury, for example, dozens of his supporters lashed out at him.

"Mi can't believe seh George lef' Westmoreland go all di way a Hanover go beat up woman," one woman said. Javon Comrie, president of the JLP's G2K Westmoreland Chapter, said the MP's alleged actions are unacceptable.

"No MP, no man, must disrespect any female in that type of way. I have a mother and three sisters and I would never want anyone to ever harm them in that way. Mr Wright should resign against this background," he told THE STAR.