Campbell sets lawyers on scandal author
COMRADE KAREN Cross, who wrote a scandalously damaging letter alleging paedophilia by a senior official of the People’s National Party (PNP), is refusing to say whether she has made a report to the police or will withdraw the comments.
That stance comes as lawyers representing Dr Dayton Campbell, the party’s general secretary, wrote to Cross on Wednesday, giving her until Friday to retract and apologise for the alleged defamatory statements, which have been circulating on social media.
“Our client denies all the allegations set out in the said letter and in particular any allegation that he has committed any criminal offence or is involved in any unethical or immoral conduct,” read a letter from the law firm Henlin Gibson Henlin insisting that Cross knew the claims were “false” but pursued them anyway “for the sole purpose of disparaging him”.
The firm said the claims in the March 16 letter are “damaging” to Campbell’s professional and business reputation” of the “well-respected” former member of parliament for St Ann North Western.
Cross, a former PNP Youth Organisation chairman not unfamiliar with controversy, has refused to speak to the developments, saying she was “thinking about” when to break her silence.
“I’m not talking about anything regarding that,” she told The Gleaner on Wednesday evening.
Questioned further, she replied: “I am quiet now. I have nothing to say.”
The PNP’s Disciplinar y Committee, meanwhile, has said that the allegations “have not been substantiated” as no evidence has been provided and that the claims have been reported to the police.
John Junor, the committee’s chairman, confirmed on Wednesday that he had received a letter from a member with allegations of a “criminal nature”, which he said have been reported to the police.
“I have recommended to the accuser that the matter be reported by her to the authorities. No evidence has been provided in support thereof. I wish to make it clear that no investigation has been commenced or is under way within the party in relation to those allegations against the officer,” said Junor.