The People’s National Party Women’s Movement has condemned the murder of Melissa Silvera, a case which it says has gripped the nation and devastated the opposition. 

The women’s movement, in a statement on Saturday (January 20), while acknowledging the murder charges laid against ex-MP Jolyan Silvera, empathised with the grieving family. 

“The tragic circumstances surrounding Melissa’s death have had a devastating impact on us as a PNP family, especially considering her three sons, as they are left mourning the loss of their mother. We recognise the immeasurable grief and pain they and other family members are enduring, and our thoughts and prayers are with them during this difficult time,” the group said.

Though emphasising the importance of justice for the slain mother-of-four, the Patricia Duncan Sutherland-led organisation said it was “clear and respect the fact that in Jamaica one is innocent until proven guilty”.

In the meantime, the PNP Women’s Movement said it would stand with the 42-year-old mother and re-commit to “advocate for systemic changes aimed at preventing and addressing violence against women and children in our society”.

Full statement reads:

“The People’s National Party Women’s Movement condemns in the strongest terms the tragic murder of Melissa Silvera and acknowledges the charges laid yesterday (Friday, January 19) on Jolyan Silvera in relation to her murder. Our nation has been rocked with shock and concern as circumstances surrounding Melissa’s death have been brought to light over the last month. We are clear and respect the fact that in Jamaica one is innocent until proven guilty.

The PNP WM wishes to commend the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) on their continued investigation to ensure justice is served impartially and transparently. The tragic circumstances surrounding Melissa’s death have had a devastating impact on us as a PNP family, especially considering her three sons, as they are left mourning the loss of their mother. We recognize the immeasurable grief and pain they and other family members are enduring, and our thoughts and prayers are with them during this difficult time.

It is important to bring perpetrators of acts of violence to justice. We stand firmly behind the pursuit of justice for Melissa Silvera, and will continue to advocate for systemic changes aimed at preventing and addressing violence against women and children in our society.

We believe that incidents such as this bring to the fore the threats to safety and security of women and children in our society. It is imperative that we collectively strive to create a culture of respect, equality, and safety for all, where such tragic incidents are never again allowed to occur. 

We reiterate our steadfast commitment to supporting survivors, raising awareness, and fostering a society that upholds the rights and dignity of every individual.

The PNP WM calls upon all stakeholders, including community leaders, law enforcement agencies, and policymakers, to join hands in addressing this pressing issue and in advocating for a society where every person can live free from the fear of violence and harm.”

At Friday afternoon’s press conference in Kingston, Deputy Commissioner of Police Fitz Bailey explained that 52-year-old Jolyan Silvera was charged with the murder of his wife, Melissa. 

The ex-parliamentarian-turned-land developer, who had already spent a night in police custody, was formally charged after a question-and-answer session at the Major Investigations Division (MID). 

“The investigation continues as we believe there are other charges to be laid against Mr Silvera,” Bailey told journalists. 

Ten weeks prior, the Silveras first dominated headlines as Melissa was presumably found dead at their Diamond Court home in Stony Hill, St Andrew on November 10, 2023. 

As her cause of death was initially listed as “natural”, police investigators say the matter was elevated to murder as gunshot wounds to the head were observed during a post-mortem examination. 

Several ‘abnormalities’ were then uncovered on their arrival to what was now being considered an active crime scene. 

A multi-agency probe was then launched which further discovered evidence suggesting renovation works, including re-painted walls and floor re-tiling, were recently effected in the room where Melissa Silvera’s body was found—leading investigators to surmise she was killed. 

“We visited the scene and observed things that were not normal. As such, we employed our technical experts and it has proven to us that some of our suspicions were correct. We continue to work but we have sufficient information to move forward with the case,” said Superintendent Richard Hilton, MID commanding officer. 

“The room has been completely tiled; we have seen signs of paint jobs [and where] furniture items were removed,” he added.

Silvera, a one-term MP for Western St Mary under a PNP ticket in 2016, was first taken into custody on Thursday, roughly a week after attending the funeral of his wife at the St Andrew Parish Church in Half-Way Tree.