Prime Minister Andrew Holness yesterday said he had retained the services of senior attorney Gordon Robinson after the airing of a television programme Monday night in which he was the subject.

“I totally and completely reject the assertions, inferences and innuendoes made in the television Programme

18 Degrees North aired on TVJ on Monday, 30th May, 2016. In particular, I wish to make it clear that all my property taxes are paid up to date and I have never entered into any arrangement with the intent of evading any of Jamaica’s tax laws or benefiting from public contracts,” Holness said in a statement.

“I view this matter seriously and have retained legal counsel. Senior counsel has already advised that there are factual basis on which the programme’s content is libellous,” Holness said.

“My family and I have been the subject of several attacks on our character and reputation in the past. As a public figure, I expect to be a target. However, it appears that there is a co-ordinated and persistent attempt to tarnish me and my family. Now that the matter is in my attorney’s hands, any future query or clarification should be addressed to senior counsel Gordon Robinson,” the prime minister said.