People’s National Party (PNP) President Mark Golding on Tuesday defended his loyalty to Jamaica, declaring that he gave up his British passport before entering representational politics and emphasised that he is a tax-paying Jamaican.

Golding was responding to questions from a journalist on whether he still held British citizenship and whether he was earning tax-free dividends from Proven, the financial investment house in which he a member of the management committee.

“I am not domiciled in any other jurisdiction. I was born in Jamaica and always lived in Jamaica other than when I was studying abroad for university. My father was born in the United Kingdom (UK). As a child I had a British passport. When I became an adult I got a Jamaican passport and since I have become involved in representational politics I no longer maintain my UK passport and will not be renewing that because I don’t think it is appropriate. That is the reality. I was born at the University Hospital, grew up at the university campus, attended Mona Preparatory, then Campion College. My mother is from here and has lived in Jamaica all her life,” the leader of Opposition said at a news conference at PNP headquarters in St Andrew.

Golding stated that he is up to date with his tax payments in Jamaica and added that he does not pay taxes in any other jurisdiction.

“I pay my taxes in Jamaica. I file a tax return every year. Some of my income is withheld at source by Parliament and other income that I have that is taxable at the source. Some I declare, for example, my law practice and I pay tax on that. I don’t pay tax in any other jurisdiction.

“Proven is a group of companies of which I am one of the members of the investment management committee. Proven has a regional footprint. It has businesses in Jamaica, in St Lucia and in other parts of the Caribbean. Those entities pay tax wherever they are operating and there is an agreement amongst all Caricom countries, including Jamaica, that says that income is to be taxed where it arises to avoid double taxation on income. That is how companies that are headquartered within the Caribbean, that is how they all operate and Proven is no different,” Golding said.