WRIGHT RETURNS
Controversial Westmoreland Central MP receives hero’s welcome back to JLP
Published:Monday | February 17, 2025 | 10:26 AMRochelle Clayton/Staff Reporter
WESTERN BUREAU:
Cheers erupted inside the Godfrey Stewart High School in Westmoreland on Sunday evening as Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) supporters celebrated the news that George Wright, member of parliament (MP) for Westmoreland Central, has been reinstated to the governing party.
Wright resigned from the party in 2021 amid domestic abuse allegations.
“I want to say to you tonight that we have a lot of work to do. We have to unite. I was out there in the pavilion, but I am back in the team,” Wright said during his presentation at the Young Jamaica Westmoreland Youth Conference at Godfrey Stewart High School in the parish.
Last month, the party said Wright’s application to rejoin was being considered. However, on Sunday evening, the party sent out a release stating that Wright’s application had been approved.
“The Membership Committee reviewed his application and considered the circumstances which led to his independent status, along with the mitigating actions he has since taken to be readmitted to the Jamaica Labour Party,” the JLP said.
“The Membership Committee has recommended that Mr Wright be readmitted, and this was accepted by the Standing Committee.”
Writing on the wall
During his presentation, Wright went on to take jabs at Dwayne Vaz, the MP candidate for the People’s National Party in Westmoreland Central.
“I have seen a little man saying that he is the shadow. Well, shadow, going around identifying what he has left there, but the truth is, and the writing is on the wall, that most of our roads are better off now than then,” Wright said.
“We are getting the work done, but there is a lot more to do. As I mentioned earlier, that the youths are the future of tomorrow, when it comes to education they can’t test. Since my time, I have spent over $48 million in education.”
Following his presentation on Sunday, Wright spoke exclusively with The Gleaner, during which he shared that his motivation to reapply for membership in the JLP was based on the recommendation of his constituents.
“The people of Westmoreland Central came out and demonstrated that they need George Wright. So I had no other choice but to listen to the people of Westmoreland Central, and with that, I did write to the prime minister, to the party, to let them know of my intention and getting back into their party. As you can see, I am in my green, and I know that the party has been looking at my request seriously, and based on the request from the constituency, I know they will give the constituents what they require,” said Wright.
Wright told The Gleaner that he has since grown from the unfortunate situation that saw his resigning from the JLP. The MP shared that he continued to work alongside the people while serving as an independent representative for over three years.
“I have grown past those things. I am a married man, living a happy life, and you know I am here to serve the people, and my work speaks for me. Whatever that was out there in the public domain did take a toll, but it did not stop me from doing what I have to do for the people. And because of that, the people saw my determination, and they decided that I should come back,” said Wright.
The first-term MP also stressed that his plan now is to retain the Westmoreland Central constituency for the JLP.
“I’m very confident. I know we have a lot of work to do, and we will get the work done,” he said.
Meanwhile, Everes Coke, former JLP councilor for the Maroon Town Division, spoke glowingly of Wright’s role in the party.
‘Westmoreland, in general, loves this member of parliament. This member of parliament is valuable to the Jamaica Labour Party,” Coke said on Sunday.