Chang defends PM’s re-election bid under integrity cloud

Dr Horace Chang, general secretary of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), has dismissed ongoing criticism from the People’s National Party (PNP) regarding Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness’ ethics and integrity, insisting these “relentless attacks” will not affect his chances in the upcoming general election.

Chang argued that the Opposition lacks a strong policy platform or performance record and has instead resorted to personal attacks, a tactic he claims is consistent with their historical approach to JLP leaders.

Sir Alexander Bustamante was labelled “uneducated” and Edward Seaga was called a “gangster”, Chang said. “Now, they’re targeting Holness.”

Chang emphasised that there is currently no law barring Holness from seeking re-election and said voters will decide based on their perception of the prime minister’s character and leadership.

“Public perception is what democracy is all about and if the public accepts the prime minister as one who is competent, honest, caring and who is willing to lead the country in the right direction, they will vote for him. Right now he is winning and I think that is where the party is gonna keep going,” he asserted.

However, PNP General Secretary Dr Dayton Campbell strongly disagrees. He contends that Holness’ failure to have his assets, income, and liabilities certified by the Integrity Commission (IC) over a three-year period should disqualify him from offering himself for re-election.

‘NOT ACCEPTABLE’

“This is not acceptable,” Campbell insisted, contending that it sets a bad precedent in the country.

He cited a poll conducted for the party by Don Anderson showing that 81 per cent of respondents believe anyone whose declarations are not certified should not be allowed to run for office.

“If the prime minister cannot be certified he should not be allowed to run,” he said.

Opposition Leader Mark Golding has consistently had his financial disclosures certified and published by the IC. The PNP highlights this as evidence of his integrity, painting Golding as a leader with “clean hands and a pure heart”.

Danielle Archer, principal director of National Integrity Action (NIA), said Jamaica has no legal precedent mandating automatic disqualification for uncertified parliamentarians. However, she argued that the lack of certification erodes public trust and damages political credibility.

In some countries, such an issue would lead to legal challenges, a loss of voter confidence, and possibly a call for resignation, Archer reasoned.

The head of NIA also submits that the JLP can reject Holness’ leadership if they agree that certification of statutory declarations is essential to demonstrating their commitment to integrity, transparency and accountability in governance.

Archer called for the implementation of a strong code of conduct to ensure that government officials, including the prime minister, face political consequences when their statutory declarations cannot be certified.

Such a framework, said Archer, would reinforce ethical governance and ensure ministers remain accountable to the public.

“The reluctance to publish and implement such a code raises questions about whether this hesitation stems from a broader unwillingness to enforce stricter accountability measures, such as ineligibility for elections,” she added.

DISCREPANCIES IN DECLARATIONS

In a report tabled in Parliament last September, IC Director of Investigations Kevon Stephenson flagged discrepancies in Holness’ 2021 income declarations, raised tax compliance concerns, and noted over $470 million in transactions involving connected companies. The report concluded the prime minister’s declarations could not be certified and referred the matter to the Financial Investigations Division (FID), citing Holness’ failure to provide expense details.

Holness, who has denied any wrongdoing and has maintained that he has provided all information requested of him, has since secured permission for a judicial review challenging the IC reports.

Marlon Morgan, a senior figure in the JLP’s communications team, said the party is focusing on facts and things that are evidence-based in its messaging to voters.

On the issue of the PM’s uncertified statutory declarations, Morgan said he finds it “curious” that the director of investigations after engaging the services of an independent international forensic accounting examiner was not able to establish findings of impropriety and “elected not to pass on findings” to its director of corruption prosecutions.

He said the director of investigations also elected not to pass on the information to the director of information and complaints for the prime minister’s statutory declaration to be certified.

“I find that very curious,” Morgan reiterated.

He emphasised that Holness, like any citizen, is presumed innocent and has the right to seek legal redress.

Still, PNP officials remain critical.

Peter Bunting, opposition spokesman on citizen security and productivity, finds it hypocritical that Holness is taking the IC to court over aspects of the same illicit enrichment law that his administration introduced in 2017.

“The clauses that allow them to pursue that, he is challenging them even though it was his Cabinet and his attorney general who approved those to say they were constitutional and now he is challenging it,” he said.

edmond.campbell@gleanerjm.com