Government MPs Rally Support Behind Embattled PM

The caucus of government members in the House of Representatives has thrown its support behind Prime Minister Andrew Holness in the deepening political row over his financial affairs.

The government MPs are the latest in a string of affiliates of the ruling party to support the Prime Minister, who faces intense calls from the Opposition People’s National Party, PNP, to resign.

Nora-Gaye Banton has more in this report.

The recent report by the Integrity Commission’s Director of Investigation, Kevon Stephenson, has raised several questions about the Prime Minister’s financial affairs and triggered a review by the Financial Investigation Division, FID.

The PNP says the allegations in the report support their claim that Holness has lost the confidence of the Jamaican people.

They say he must go.

But the 48 government members of the lower house say no.

Independent MP from Central Westmoreland, George Wright, who caucuses with the government MPs is said to be in support of their position.

In a statement Friday afternoon, Leader of Government Business in the lower house, Edmund Bartlett says the Opposition PNP is misusing and misrepresenting the Integrity Commission report to malign the Prime Minister.

The government leader says the country should note that the Integrity Commission has not identified any evidence of wrongdoing by Holness.

This, Bartlett says, is despite significant expenditure, years of investigation and overseas technical assistance.

He says the government members are also concerned about what he describes as the Opposition’s apparent inside knowledge of the Integrity Commission’s activities.

Bartlett has stressed that no politically motivated attacks on the Prime Minister’s character or leadership will be tolerated.

He’s vowing that the government members will defend the Prime Minister’s name and reputation with the full force of the Constitution and the law.