The Speaker of the House of Representatives and Member of Parliament for South Trelawny, Marisa Dalrymple-Philibert has resigned from both offices.

The resignations take effect immediately.

In a statement this afternoon, Mrs. Dalrymple-Philibert noted the report from the Integrity Commission which accused her of failing to disclose the purchase of a motor vehicle in her statutory declarations for the period 2015 to 2021.

Chevon Campbell tells us more.

According to Mrs. Dalrymple Philibert, since the Integrity Commission has decided to charge her criminally for an omission and considering the damage this has done to her reputation she’s decided to resign both as House Speaker and MP.

Mrs. Dalrymple Philibert says over the past two days, she’s read the Integrity Commission’s report detailing the circumstances of the omission.

She says she’s also taken note of the public sentiments on this issue.

She states categorically that nowhere in the entire report, has the Integrity Commission raised any question or concern about the source of funding of the vehicle which was purchased through a loan from Sagicor Bank.

She also repeats her statement that the vehicle was never sold or transferred to anyone in the past seven years.

She maintains that the omission of the vehicle from her statutory declarations was a genuine oversight on her part.

Mrs. Dalrymple Philibert says there would have been no allegations against her name had she included the vehicle in her declarations.

She says she had no motive to have deliberately omitted it.

She says what has happened to her, could have happened to any other MP, Public Servant, or Civil Servant.

Mrs. Dalrymple Philibert says her decision to resign is entirely voluntary, and was not at the request of anyone.

She says she remains a loyal and committed member and supporter of the Jamaica Labour Party and more particularly to the Andrew Holness Administration.

She says the present circumstances are completely contrary to her principles and beliefs.

She says she looks forward to the trial of the matter to be concluded in a court of law, rather than in the court of Public Opinion.

Mrs. Dalrymple Philibert has served the South Trelawny constituency for four terms starting in 2007.

She was appointed Speaker of the House in September 2020.