JLP demands Opposition spokesman's resignation over 'chap di line' remark

The Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) is demanding the resignation of Opposition Spokesman on Human Rights, Isat Buchanan, following controversial remarks he made on social media regarding the Coopers Pen demolition exercise.

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Chap di line pan dem

The JLP accused Buchanan of encouraging individuals in Trelawny, who were not directly affected by the demolition, to feign property damage. In a TikTok Live session, Buchanan was heard urging people to "Chap di line pan dem," implying they should exploit the situation to secure taxpayer-funded housing. He stated that those whose houses were bulldozed "haffi get back a house out a government and it nah go be no trailer bet."

Adding to the pressure, the JLP called on People's National Party (PNP) President Mark Golding to publicly address Buchanan's statements. The JLP asserted that Golding's silence on the matter demonstrates his unsuitability for national leadership, reiterating its condemnation of Buchanan's remarks and Golding's perceived inaction.

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So to the people of Trelawny who wake up and dem bull doze your house. The prime minister him haffi lift offa some house and him haffi give uno. All some a uno weh never up deh, uno take off one foot on the bed, bruk it off and carry it up there and say see wah left. Yeah. Chap di line pan dem cause any body inna dat deh place deh weh dem bulldoze you haffi get back a house out a government and it nah go be no trailer bet sehh a land uno get. Yeah.

The JLP described Buchanan's position as "untenable," deeming his suggestion for residents to act unlawfully to gain state benefits as "grossly irresponsible and outright disgraceful," especially for a lawmaker and an attorney-at-law.

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Buchanan’s position in the Opposition Shadow Cabinet is untenable because it is grossly irresponsible and outright disgraceful for a lawmaker and member of the Opposition Shadow Cabinet, who is also an attorney-at-law, to suggest that residents conduct themselves in an unlawful manner in order to derive benefits from the state.