The Opposition People’s National Party (PNP) has asked Prime Minister Andrew Holness to resign after the Integrity Commission released a report about his financial matters. The PNP called the findings in the 171-page report disturbing and said they raise serious questions about his honesty and ability to lead.
In a statement on Wednesday, the PNP mentioned that they are reviewing the report with their legal team to understand what it means. After their analysis, they plan to speak more thoroughly to the Jamaican people.
From their early review, the PNP highlighted a few important points, including their belief that Holness “deliberately misled the country and Parliament.” They referred to a statement he made on August 22, 2023, claiming he had not heard of anyone in his party being written to about issues of illicit enrichment. The PNP stated that on May 5, 2023, the Integrity Commission had actually informed Holness that he was under investigation for this matter.
They noted that when Holness spoke to Parliament on June 13, 2023, he did not mention this ongoing investigation, which they say was a deliberate choice to keep the truth from Parliament and the public.
Regarding the recommendation to refer Holness to the Financial Investigations Division (FID), the PNP said this suggests that the investigations are far from over. The FID investigates financial crimes, and more damaging information may come to light as they continue their work.
The report also pointed out serious tax irregularities related to Holness’s companies and suggested these issues should be sent to the Tax Administration Jamaica for further action. The PNP expressed that this adds to the problems facing the prime minister.
Additionally, the Integrity Commission has not certified Holness’s financial declarations for the past three years (2021, 2022, and 2023). The PNP said this raises further doubts about his transparency and financial behavior.
The PNP claimed that Jamaica is facing an unusual crisis of confidence in the prime minister’s leadership, with ongoing investigations into his integrity. They noted that despite reassurances from Holness, he is focused on clearing his name, which they believe is damaging the democratic system and public trust in the government.
Given this situation, the PNP urged the prime minister to resign promptly. They stressed that the Office of the Prime Minister should represent integrity and that Holness’s attempts to stay in power while under suspicion are unacceptable. They believe stepping down is necessary to uphold the dignity of Jamaica’s democracy.
JLP Defends Holness Amidst PNP’s Call For His Resignation.
Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) spokesperson Juliet Cuthbert-Flynn has called the Opposition People’s National Party (PNP) appeal for Prime Minister Andrew Holness to resign “desperate and unwarranted.”
She stated that the JLP believes the Integrity Commission report, which the PNP used to demand the Prime Minister’s resignation, found no wrongdoing by him.
“The Jamaica Labour Party wants to make it clear that the Prime Minister will stay in office,” Cuthbert-Flynn said in a media release on Wednesday.
She described the PNP’s position as desperate and without basis. Cuthbert-Flynn pointed out that unlike some in the PNP, the Prime Minister does not hide his assets in trusts.
In response to the PNP’s demand, she suggested that Opposition Leader Mark Golding and Opposition Senator Peter Bunting should resign due to their involvement in alleged ‘sweetheart deals’ with the former investment bank Dehring, Bunting, and Golding (DB&G) Ltd, where both men were involved.
These deals were made in 2004 and 2005.
In 2010, the contractor general found nothing illegal about the ‘sweetheart deals,’ but he noted that some parts of the agreement were irregular and improper.
Cuthbert-Flynn insisted that the Integrity Commission’s report looked into Holness’s finances and did not deal with public funds, unlike the investigation into the ‘sweetheart deal.’
“Given the findings of the OCG probe, documented in the Parliament of Jamaica, it is actually Peter Bunting and Mark Golding who should resign from their roles as Opposition Leader and Opposition Senate Leader.
“Bunting and Golding’s behavior shows they were never fit for leadership, representing a party that claims to be serious but has turned into a group of gimmicks,” she said.
Golding disagreed with the Contractor General’s findings that the agreements with the old PNP Government were improper and irregular.
One thought on “PNP Demands Holness Resignation Over Integrity Report Findings.”