04/11/2026
Phillips Rejects False Narratives Surrounding Incident at Gordon House
Kingston, Jamaica. November 4, 2026: Member of Parliament for Manchester North Western, Mikael Phillips, MP, has strongly rejected what he describes as false and misleading claims made by Deputy House Leader Robert Morgan, MP, concerning an incident at Gordon House following Tuesday’s premature adjournment of the House of Representatives.
Mr. Phillips said that while the incident was unfortunate, entirely unnecessary and regrettable, the circulation of inaccurate accounts does nothing to help the public understand what transpired.
According to Mr. Phillips, he was standing with two other Opposition Members of Parliament, discussing the manner in which the sitting had been adjourned, when the Speaker exited the chamber. “As soon as the Speaker left, the Member of Parliament for Kingston Western, Desmond McKenzie, verbally attacked me, making an offensive reference to my deceased mother. He then repeated the offence,” Mr. Phillips explained.
Mr. Phillips acknowledged that he reacted in anger and used an expletive, an action for which he has expressed regret. “My reaction was inappropriate, and I regret that I allowed myself to respond in that manner. I sincerely apologise to the Jamaican people,” he stated.
However, Mr. Phillips categorically rejected allegations by Mr. Morgan that he had pushed away the Leader of the Opposition during the exchange, clarifying that the Opposition Leader was not involved in the incident. He explained that while two Government Members of Parliament intervened, neither was physically touched by him. Mr. Phillips also questioned the basis of Mr. Morgan’s account, noting that the Deputy House Leader was not in the immediate vicinity when the incident occurred. “It is deeply irresponsible for a Member of Parliament, particularly one entrusted with a leadership role in the House, to circulate an account that is so fundamentally at odds with what actually occurred. Mr. Morgan should withdraw his false and malicious claims immediately,” he said.
Mr. Phillips maintained that the incident must also be considered against the backdrop of growing tensions in the House of Representatives, arising from what he described as the Government’s persistent efforts to curtail debate and restrict the Opposition’s ability to participate fully in parliamentary proceedings. He argued that the repeated frustration of Members’ rights to speak and debate has contributed to an increasingly tense parliamentary environment and a deterioration of order in the House.
“The right of elected representatives to speak, question and debate is fundamental to our parliamentary democracy. When those rights are repeatedly frustrated, it undermines the proper functioning of Parliament and contributes to an atmosphere of unnecessary tension. Parliament must remain a place where differing views can be expressed freely and respectfully, not one where legitimate debate is routinely stifled,” Mr. Phillips stated.
He emphasised that while all Members of Parliament have a responsibility to maintain order and decorum, that responsibility must be accompanied by fairness, mutual respect and a commitment to protecting democratic debate. He called for greater restraint on all sides and urged the Government to respect the rights of elected representatives to discharge their parliamentary duties without unnecessary obstruction.
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