KINGSTON, Jamaica— People’s National Party (PNP) President Mark Golding says the implication of Prime Minister Andrew Holness in a multi-million dollar corruption probe has exposed Jamaica to “international embarrassment”.

READ: Holness cited for possible conflict of interest, breaches of Corruption Act

According to an investigative report from the Integrity Commission, Holness was implicated in an allegation of conflict of interest regarding contracts awarded to close associates from as far back as 2009 when he was Minister of Education.

“This revelation exposes the country to international embarrassment. A head of Government should be beyond reproach, and it is unacceptable that he has been besmirched by accusations of impropriety. That the country’s principal integrity and anti-corruption body has found sufficient evidence to refer our prime minister for potential prosecution, places Jamaica in an untenable position,” said PNP leader Mark Golding.

He went on to describe the revelation as a devastation before adding that it is “unfortunately consistent with the prime minister’s troubling history with the Integrity Commission, including their inability to certify his 2021 statutory declaration of assets, liabilities and income”.

The Opposition further accused Holness of failing to sign the Integrity Commissions’ Leadership Code of Conduct, while pointing out that the PNP president and other leaders within the party have already signed that instrument, declaring their commitment to the highest standards of governance and probity in public life.

“The Opposition believes the implications of the report to be potentially crippling for the Government. The International Community and multi-lateral agencies will have significant misgivings about dealing with a country whose Head of Government has the implications of this situation hanging over his head,” the PNP said.