Golding offers himself as Jamaica’s rescuer
Opposition leader says country must be saved from betrayal, not just poverty
Published:Monday | August 4, 2025 | 12:06 AMAlbert Ferguson/Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
With a general election looming, People’s National Party (PNP) President Mark Golding has issued a clarion call to Jamaicans, positioning himself as the nation’s rescuer from what he describes as a decade of betrayal, corruption, and failed leadership under Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness and the governing Jamaica Labour Party (JLP).
Speaking to a sea of orange-clad supporters at Independence Park in Savanna-la-mar, Westmoreland on Saturday night, Golding did not mince words, casting the current administration as “self-serving” and “morally bankrupt”, while pledging to usher in a new era rooted in accountability, transparency, and love for country.
“I come to you not just as a politician, but as a man on a mission to rebuild a nation that has been broken, not by poverty alone, but by mismanagement, neglect, and betrayal,” declared Golding to thunderous applause.
Amid the growing anticipation for the announcement of the election date, constitutionally due this year, Golding said the PNP is not only prepared for the electoral contest but also ready to govern.
“We are ready for government. We are ready to deliver for the Jamaican people. We have a strong team … and every single one has signed the leadership code of conduct of the Integrity Commission,” he said.
‘A CRYING SHAME’
In a sharp rebuke of the Holness-led Government, Golding claimed that while all 63 of the PNP’s prospective candidates have committed themselves to the Integrity Commission’s leadership code, “not one Labourite has signed that code of conduct. It’s a crying shame”.
In what he described as a “sweeping call to purpose”, Golding urged Jamaicans to seize the moment and reclaim the promise of their nation.
“This moment is not about me. It is about all of us … . I ask for your voices to be heard. I ask for partnership. This is our turn to make history, and to make history that counts,” he proclaimed.
His 16-minute long address drew clear contrasts between his personal motivations and what he described as the transactional politics that have gripped the country.
“I did not come into politics to get rich. When I came into politics, I was already one of the top lawyers in Jamaica … . I had built my foundation already,” Golding said, highlighting his background in commercial law.
Golding reserved his strongest criticism for the administration’s alleged mishandling of public resources and protection of party loyalists.
REBUILD TRUST
“I will bring honesty where corruption has ensnared this nation, and I will rebuild trust where trust has been shattered by 10 years of Labour Party shenanigans,” he asserted.
He accused the Government of operating a system designed to benefit insiders and cronies, particularly when it comes to the distribution of food import licences.
“The licences to bring in a lot of that food are issued on a ‘friend-and-company’ basis. Nuff top Labourite benefit from those licences, while the farmers have to compete with subsidised food being imported into Jamaica. It is not right,” Golding charged.
He further alleged that some JLP candidates facing corruption investigations are being shielded from public scrutiny, citing a report by the Integrity Commission that remains largely under wraps.
“There are going to be a number of candidates who are under investigation for corruption offences. Nobody knows who they are. That cannot be right. We are going to change that,” he said.
Golding, who is seeking a mandate from the Jamaican electorate to lead the country from Jamaica House, ended on a note of optimism, promising not just policy changes but a shift in national tone and values.
“Let us build that better life with love, with courage, and with each other … . Thank you for believing that something better is possible. We will not let you down. The word is love.”