Shaw THE JLP'S Generation 2000 (G2K) group has come out in defence of Audley Shaw, the party's deputy leader, claiming he was being targeted by the newly-formed PNP Young Patriots group for "personal character attacks".
Dr. David Panton, chairman of the group, accused the PNP of assigning the new Patriot group, as well as its youth arm, the PNPYO, to "systematically target" JLP representatives, starting with Mr. Shaw, the party's spokesman on finance and chairman of Parliament's Public Accounts Committee.
He said that the G2K was "profoundly disappointed" with the PNP youth arms for "engaging in the politics of the past by attacking individuals rather than devising creative solutions to address the many problems facing the Jamaican people, particularly young people."
The G2K produced documents which it said showed that the Manchester Parish Council had absolved Mr. Shaw from any wrongdoing, pertaining to the payment of $5,000 to his hardware store in Christiana. The money covered the cost of materials used in the burial of an AIDS victim in December. The documents also revealed that the Council had been advised that there were no rules against firms owned by MPs doing business with the Council. Mr. Shaw was exempted by Parliament in 1993 to do business with Government agencies.
The G2K said that Mr. Shaw has referred the matter to the Auditor General, requesting an immediate audit of his Indigent Housing/Social and Economic Support (SESP)expenditure. A report is expected by the end of the month.
The accusations against Mr. Shaw were originally raised by John Junor, Minister of Health and MP for Manchester Central. They were later reiterated by the Patriot group.
Dr. Panton called on other Members of Parliament to follow Mr. Shaw's example and allow the Auditor General to review their respective SESP allocations. However, he said he had no evidence of any irregularity involving the expenditure of SESP funds by any MP.
Dr. Panton made his remarks at a press conference held at the JLP's headquarters, Belmont Road, Kingston, which was also addressed by Dr. Ronald Robinson, deputy chairman of the G2K, Vindel Kerr, executive director, and Andrew Gallimore and Tricia Grindley, directors.
