Hamilton’s lawyers warn Williams to cease ‘unwelcome contact’

Attorneys for Rae Town Councillor Rosalie Hamilton have issued a 24-hour ultimatum to Kingston Central Member of Parliament (MP) Donovan Williams, threatening Supreme Court action unless he ceases “unwelcome contact” and alleged harassment against her.

The legal strike, contained in two letters dated March 26, also rejected claims that the councillor defamed Williams in a series of leaked voice notes now widely circulated.

Her attorneys argued that Hamilton’s public statements regarding Christmas work and the administration of public resources fall under her duty of absolute transparency as an elected representative.

Hamilton’s legal team of R. C. Allen-Brown, further denied that their client published or authorised any content on the social media platform TikTok, arguing that the councillor is “legally and practically disabled” from removing material she did not upload.

The response represents an escalation in the public feud between Hamilton, a veteran councillor under the Jamaica Labour Party’s (JLP) banner, and Williams, a state minister and second-term parliamentary representative for the Kingston Central constituency in which the Rae Town division falls.

Yesterday, Hamilton’s attorneys issued a formal demand for Williams to stop all contact with her.

They claim that Williams has engaged in “repeated and unwelcome contact” that has caused the councillor significant distress and a fear for her personal safety.

FEAR FOR SAFETY

“This conduct has now reached a level where our client reasonably fears for her personal safety and well-being,” the letter addressed to Williams’ legal team at Richardson Law Chambers said.

The lawyers are demanding that the MP immediately cease and desist from any and all direct or indirect contact with Hamilton; that Williams refrain from contacting the councillor through third parties, agents, associates, or intermediaries; refrain from attending or approaching any location where he knows or ought reasonably to know that she will be present; and cease any conduct that may reasonably be construed as harassment, intimidation, or an attempt to interfere with her peace and security.

“Should the conduct complained of persist, our client will have no hesitation in seeking injunctive relief before the Supreme Court of Jamaica; reporting the matter to the Jamaica Constabulary Force; pursuing any additional civil and/or criminal remedies available under Jamaican law, including but not limited to remedies for harassment and threats to personal safety,” one of the letters read.

It stated that given the seriousness of the matter, a written undertaking is required within 24 hours that Williams will comply fully with the demands set out.

“… We trust that your client will act responsibly to de-escalate matters immediately,” the letter stated.

The request follows correspondence issued by Williams’ attorneys on Tuesday demanding that Hamilton remove defamatory content circulating on social media, cease further statements, and issue a public apology within 48 hours or face Supreme Court litigation for allegedly damaging Williams’ reputation.

In the series of leaked voice notes that became public earlier this week, Hamilton made several allegations against Williams.

The tension reportedly stems from efforts to replace the veteran councillor, a long-standing representative who first won the division for the governing party in 2003. After multiple terms and a narrow 2016 victory, she retained the division for the JLP in the February 2024 local government elections.

Yesterday, Hamilton, through her attorneys, denied publishing the voice notes and argued that the demand for a public apology is “overbroad” because Williams’ team failed to provide a specific schedule of the exact words or phrases that are alleged to be false.

They contend that Hamilton’s statements are grounded in her first-hand experience as the councillor for the Rae Town division and that she has a “duty of absolute transparency” regarding public resources, including financial disbursements.

kimone.francis@gleanerjm.com