PNP to probe sexual harassment allegations against Westmoreland MP

The Opposition People’s National Party (PNP) says its executive will approve on Monday a committee to investigate sexual harassment allegations made by Councillor Julian Chang against Westmoreland Central MP Dwayne Vaz.

Vaz has denied the allegations.

PNP General Secretary Dr Dayton Campbell said Friday that the committee was organised after the party learnt of Chang's allegations earlier this week.

He said the panel is separate from the party’s Internal Affairs Commission, which is already reviewing a political dispute between the two.

“The PNP is aware of issues that have surfaced between the MP and the councillor for the Savanna-la-Mar Division. A formal report was made by the MP and it was referred to the Internal Affairs Commission of the party last year,” Campbell told The Gleaner on Friday.

“There are other issues surrounding the relationship that have come to the fore, and those matters are also being referred … and we hope for a speedy resolution to the matter,” he said.

The Savanna-la-Mar Division falls within Vaz’s constituency. Other issues reportedly include allegations that Chang campaigned for Vaz’s opponent in the September 2025 general election.

There are also claims that Vaz sought to sideline Chang from constituency leadership, asked her to leave a recent meeting, and that a constituency conference was held without the party’s approval.

Campbell said the review of the political dispute was affected by Hurricane Melissa, which devastated Westmoreland on October 28.

“There was an intervening event of a Category Five hurricane that also involved both persons in question, given that Central Westmoreland is one of the most affected constituencies,” said Campbell, who is also the MP for Westmoreland Eastern. “So, some of those things would have delayed the probe into the matter. It does not mean that the matter was not being dealt with.”

Campbell did not state a timeline for the resolution of the issues but said, “We want due process to take place, even as we seek a speedy resolution.”

Meanwhile, attorney-at-law Bert Samuels, who represents Vaz, said the MP maintains his innocence and is cooperating fully with the party’s process. Vaz has demanded that Chang apologise for comments made during a Nationwide Radio interview on Monday.

“We wrote to the PNP asking it to immediately host an inquiry into this allegation of sexual harassment,” Samuels said on Friday. “The inquiry will determine where we go after the results. Vaz has done what is necessary to engage the party’s procedures and put this matter to rest so he can focus on representing the people of Westmoreland.”

Chang’s attorney, Maurice McCurdy, has written to Samuels rejecting the request for an apology.

McCurdy declined further comment on Friday.

“We believe the matter is being appropriately handled and we will apprise the public once it has been settled,” he said.

Responding to critics who have compared the PNP’s response to how the party previously handled the controversy involving Jamaica Labour Party member MP George Wright, Campbell insisted, “This matter is receiving the seriousness it deserves. Some of the issues raised are before the Internal Affairs Commission, and the process will be thorough and fair.”

Wright, then the MP for Westmoreland Central, was implicated in a scandal in April 2021 after the police confirmed that a woman filed a complaint against him for alleged assualt. He had also filed a similar complaint. Wright never confirmed or denied that he was the man in a viral video showing a person beating a woman with a stool.

On Tuesday, the PNP Women’s Movement said it was concerned about the sexual harassment allegations raised by Chang.

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