Golding says Holness should not contest upcoming general election

WESTERN BUREAU:

Citing unresolved issues with the Integrity Commission (IC), Opposition Leader Mark Golding, whose People’s National Party (PNP) is seeking to unseat the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), says Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness should not be seeking re-election to the House of Representatives due to ethics concerns.

Golding, who was addressing party supporters during a town hall meeting in Montego Bay on Wednesday night, did not mince his words, declaring that Holness should not be allowed to become a candidate in the impending general election.

“As far as we are concerned, the prime minister should not be putting himself forward to run in the next general election,” said Golding to applause from the audience. “The objective facts really ought to disqualify him, and his party should have reflected on that and taken certain decisions. But they are determined to tough it out and see what happens.”

Golding further argued that the Jamaican electorate is not prepared to sit back and allow Holness and the JLP to secure another term in government, especially given the seriousness of the questions around Holness’ finances.

“The people of Jamaica don’t like it. They don’t like the smell of it, they don’t like the look of it, and they don’t like the feel of it,” said Golding. “And I think that is what I call good-minded behaviour, to stand up against bad administration, to stand up against corruption, to stand up against this type of situation that is bringing our country into disrepute.”

RELUCTANCE TO CALL ELECTION

Golding went on to question what he considered Holness’ reluctance to call the general election, instead of going down to the wire, which he describes as an uncommon political practice.

The next general election is due in just over three months.

“If they felt comfortable and confident, this would have happened a long time ago. We were planning for an election in February because, typically, governments don’t like to go to the wire for these things [as] it narrows your room to manoeuvre,” said Golding.

“But they have been deferring it. The people of Jamaica have made up their minds, and they want change. They see the programmes and policies that we are talking about, and they understand that it is very important that the People’s National Party be brought back into government, a government that the people can have confidence in, so that we can deliver,” he added.

The IC recently referred the Holness matter to the Financial Investigations Division (FID), a branch of the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service, for further investigation. The referral stems from a report by the IC, which raised concerns about the funding and operations of companies linked to the prime minister.

The IC’s investigation questioned the income-generating capacity of the companies relative to the funds identified in their accounts, recommending that both the FID and Tax Administration Jamaica take a comprehensive look at transactions amounting to over $150 million, including dealings with companies such as Barita Investments and a US$94,000 bond.

Holness has rejected the IC’s recommendations, asserting that he has complied with all legal obligations and that the company with which he is directly associated is compliant and up to date with its tax filings.

The actions taken by the IC against Holness have sparked political debate with the JLP taking objection to the proposed referral to the FID, arguing that the transaction in question was an error admitted by a financial institution.

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