Jamaica ruling party rejects call for resignation of Prime Minister Andrew Holness

The ruling Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) has dismissed a call for Prime Minister Andrew Holness to step down from office.

The call was made Wednesday by the main opposition People’s National Party (PNP) in light of the Integrity Commission’s report on its investigation into the income and assets declarations submitted by Holness for 2019-2022.

In a press release, the opposition said Holness’ presence in office is a “disservice to the Jamaican people and our democratic system.”

“The Office of the Prime Minister must be a beacon of integrity, not a place to shield oneself from scrutiny. Holness’ ongoing rearguard action to remain in power under a cloud of suspicion is unacceptable. We call on him to do the right thing and step down immediately. His continued presence in office is a disservice to the Jamaican people and our democratic system,” the release said.

The party also accused Holness of misleading Jamaicans when he said in August last year that no one in his party was under investigation for illicit enrichment.

However, the Integrity Commission says it wrote to Holness on May 5, 2023, notifying him of the investigation for alleged illicit enrichment.

The PNP also highlighted the commission’s referral of the matter to the Financial Investigations Division and Commissioner General of Tax Administration Jamaica for further probe.

But in response, the JLP rejected the call, and the party maintains that the Integrity Commission report upon which the PNP premised its call, found the Prime Minister culpable of no wrongdoing.

It said the Director of Corruption Prosecution was clear in suggesting that the Prime Minister’s explanation is credible and therefore prosecution is unwarranted.

JLP spokesperson Juliet Cuthbert Flynn said the position taken by the PNP is baseless.

“This is a Prime Minister who has skilfully led the country through multiple crises and has not been implicated in unbecoming or any unlawful conduct. Any position taken by the PNP is baseless,” said Cuthbert Flynn. —KINGSTON, Jamaica (CMC)