Minister Babsy Grange Disgusted by Isat Buchanan’s “Nasty” Comments About the DPP; Urges Golding to Denounce Buchanan’s Actions Publicly

Nicolas SimpsonJuly 31, 2023, 1:47 PM

Minister of Culture and Gender Affairs, Olivia Babsy Grange, has requested immediate action against Isat Buchanan for quoting lyrics from a song by convicted dancehall artiste Vybz Kartel, titled “The Menace,” wherein the artiste references Paula Llewellyn, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

See a photo of Paula Llewellyn below:

Grange directed her request to the leader of the People’s National Party (PNP), Mark Golding, of which Isat Buchanan is the Chairman of the Human Rights Commission.

See a photo of Babsy Grange below:

Babsy Grange

In rebuking Buchanan, Grange stated he used “misogynistic, crude, nasty, sexist, low, and disgraceful language about the country’s chief prosecutor.”

Buchanan’s controversial remarks during a conversation with a social media blogger have now gone viral online.

See a photo of Isat Buchanan below:

Isat Buchanan

According to the Gleaner, Miss Grange expressed her disappointment that an attorney and Chairman of a PNP body would use such disrespectful and offensive language towards a woman.

She emphasised that these comments represent an unprecedented low in the treatment of women by men within the PNP. Grange highlighted that the comments do not disrespect the targeted individual alone but reflect poorly on women in leadership positions across Jamaica.

In a statement on behalf of the Jamaica Labour Party’s Women’s Caucus, Grange emphasised that politicising the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions is a no-no. She stressed the importance of addressing inappropriate behaviour regardless of political affiliation.

Additionally, she stated that Mr Golding’s actions in politicising the DPP have created an environment where some male leaders in the PNP feel they can target a female public servant with hateful and bullying language.

Grange has called on Golding to denounce Buchanan’s actions publicly.

See a photo of PNP leader Mark Golding below:

Mark Golding

She has also requested the General Legal Council’s disciplinary committee to investigate Buchanan for violating the legal profession’s canons.

Grange invited all women in leadership, irrespective of their political affiliation, to join her in condemning Buchanan’s inappropriate and offensive rhetoric towards another woman in leadership.