PNP YO President Slams Government’s Dismissal of Health Crisis, Demands Resignations Over Smear Campaign Against Clarke

Kingston, Jamaica. April 9, 2025 — President of the PNP Youth Organisation and Opposition Senator, Gabriela Morris, has condemned the Government’s reckless dismissal of credible public health warnings, demanding the immediate resignation of JLP Councillor Beverly Prince (Cassia Park) and Government Senator Marlon Morgan. This follows the National Water Commission’s (NWC) confirmation of E. coli contamination in sections of Kingston and St. Andrew’s water supply—a crisis the Government initially downplayed and weaponised for political gain.

Weeks earlier, Junior Shadow Spokesperson on Health and Wellness Jesse James Clarke raised urgent concerns and called for the release of water quality data, warning of public health risks. Instead of taking the matter seriously, the Government chose to ridicule and discredit Clarke. On March 24, Senator Morgan branded Clarke’s call “false, reckless, and irresponsible.” By April 1, Councillor Prince and the JLP’s KSAMC caucus went further, demanding Clarke’s resignation and accusing him of spreading misinformation.

“The NWC’s admission makes one thing clear: Clarke was right, and the Government was wrong,” Senator Morris declared. “This wasn’t just political deflection — it was a dangerous attempt to silence legitimate concerns and mislead the public in the face of a health emergency. Prince and Morgan must resign, and the JLP must apologise.”

Demands:

• Immediate resignations of Prince and Morgan for their defamatory and irresponsible conduct.

• A formal public apology from the JLP, acknowledging and retracting their false claims.

• An independent inquiry into the NWC’s delayed disclosures and any Government interference in the release of public health information.

Morris also criticised the Ministry of Health for its contradictory public guidance: “We need answers from the MOH: Why were residents told the water was safe when E. coli was confirmed? This kind of miscommunication puts lives at risk and must be corrected immediately.”

She concluded: “The PNP stands for accountability. While Jesse James Clarke was advocating for transparency and the health of Jamaicans, the Government was more interested in political spin. Jamaica deserves leadership that puts the people first.”

The PNP continues to urge residents to follow accurate and updated health advisories as remediation efforts proceed.