A ceremonial health center inauguration in St. Mary, Jamaica, descended into political chaos on Thursday after Health Minister Christopher Tufton unexpectedly invited former MP Dr. Norman Dunn to address attendees despite his absence from the official program. The incident triggered heated confrontations between supporters of the ruling Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) and opposition People’s National Party (PNP).
Outside the newly opened Belfield Health Centre, Dunn’s supporters credited him with driving the project to completion. However, current MP Norman Brown countered these claims by emphasizing the community-led effort initiated by late former MP Dr. Winston Green, a dental surgeon who died suddenly in 2017 while serving his second term under the PNP ticket.
Brown recounted how Belfield residents had “protested, organised, appealed and consistently raised their voices about the unacceptable condition of the former clinic,” noting that advocacy began under Green’s leadership and continued through sustained community engagement until the vision materialized. “This facility belongs to the people of Belfield. It is their victory,” Brown asserted.
The tension reached its peak when Minister Tufton invited Dunn to speak toward the end of the program, deviating from the planned agenda that should have proceeded directly to the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Brown expressed concern to Observer Online that Dunn’s remarks unexpectedly shifted into political territory, with the presentation taking on a partisan tone as it outlined the project’s ‘history.’
Brown emphasized democratic principles, noting that residents of St. Mary South East had already exercised their voting rights in last year’s general election. “At any given time, there is one duly elected Member of Parliament. Political contests have their place and when that time comes, we will meet in the political field. But during moments of governance and community development, politics must not overshadow progress,” Brown stated.
Despite the political theatrics, Brown remained determined to focus on substantive governance matters, stating his commitment to “delivering for the people, protecting the dignity of the office entrusted to me and ensuring that development in South East St Mary continues without unnecessary political distractions.”