CABINET Minister Daryl Vaz yesterday labelled Dr Peter Phillips “chief hypocrite” in response to the Opposition leader's call for sanctions against him arising from his (Vaz's) failed attempt to lease land at Holywell in the Blue and John Crow Mountains national park.

“The people of Jamaica are not fools and they will recognise that Peter Phillips is the chief hypocrite in his posture on national issues,” Vaz said, describing Phillips's call at Sunday's People's National Party (PNP) meeting as “hollow, baseless, and barefaced”.

In his address to the meeting of the PNP's regions two and three at The Mico University College in Kingston, Dr Phillips said he was not satisfied with the Government's response to the issue involving a bid made by Vaz for lease of Government-owned land at Holywell.

But Vaz said yesterday that Phillips is unworthy of being given the opportunity to lead Jamaica, given his tolerance of PNP members who have been the subject of a raft of adverse findings from anti-corruption agencies.

In relation to his alleged role in the Palace Resort/UDC deal, Vaz said it should be noted that unlike several people Phillips has promoted, no adverse recommendations to law enforcement agencies were made by the commission of Parliament which probed the matter.