KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – The ruling Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) dismissed a call for Prime Minister Andrew Holness to resign.
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,” it 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 to the Financial Investigations Division and Commissioner General of Tax Administration Jamaica for further probe.
But in response, the JLP rejected the call. 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 suggested that the Prime Minister’s explanation was credible and, therefore, prosecution was unwarranted.
JLP spokesperson Juliet Cuthbert Flynn said the position taken by the PNP is baseless.
“This Prime Minister has skillfully led the country through multiple crises and has not been implicated in unbecoming g or any unlawful conduct. Any position taken by the PNP is baseless,” said Cuthbert Flynn.
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