General Secretary of the Opposition People’s National Party (PNP), Dr Dayton Campbell says the party is considering taking legal action against the appointment of Dennis Chung as chief technical director of the Financial Investigations Division (FID).

“We are also checking with our good, good lawyers who beat them every time in a court. If we should take this matter to court. And I hear the man who called the election in the middle of COVID, six months early, saying now that he’s not ready. He can run, but he cannot hide. Call the election and let us restore dignity to Jamaica,” Campbell said as he addressed party supporters on Monday at a protest at National Heroes Circle in Kingston.

The Opposition is calling for the government to rescind Chung’s appointment to the FID, which it noted raises concerns about conflict of interest with the FID currently investigating Prime Minister Andrew Holness for illicit enrichment.

“Would they have changed the requirements to give him the job if he had said that Andrew Holness guilty of something? It is about time that we show that the power of the people is greater than the people in power. It is about time that we put the people first. We have had enough of a government who, for 10 years, look out for themselves but now come and tell you that you are to choose them to go again,” Campbell said.

“We have had enough of a government that gave themselves 300 per cent increase and give the people 20 per cent increase. We have had enough of this prime minister, under whose watch we have seen the most murder than any other prime minister in the history of this country,” he continued, adding “Time come now for us to put the people first and to put dignity back in Jamaica House. It is time for us to restore Jamaica’s good name locally, regionally and internationally.”

Campbell’s sentiments were also echoed by a party supporter who argued that Chung’s previous utterances regarding the FID investigation make him an unfit candidate for the role.

“I might have on my colours, but I am not here for the party; I am here as a Jamaicans supporting our Jamaican because that man, Mr Chung, is not fit for that position. Not after I saw and listened when the Integrity Commission spoke out about Andrew and his declaration, and he was one of the persons that said Andrew didn’t do anything wrong, so why he should get this position now? He is not fit for the position. It’s a conflict of interest,” she said.

“I am asking the prime minister to let him resign. It cannot go on like this. It is time for us to take a stand in Jamaica too much corruption,” she continued.

Meanwhile, Denise Daley, Member of Parliament for St Catherine Eastern, questioned Chung’s qualification for the role.

“We are here protesting based on principles. We can’t; every time when things don’t suit us, we move rules and regulations to suit ourselves. This is blatant corruption. You are not qualified for the job, don’t take it. I am disappointed with Dennis Chung, and I am appealing to him, don’t let them use him as a scapegoat because he knows in his heart what he is qualified to do,” Daley said.

“He knows he is qualified, but for what? And he has already done damage to himself in the sense that he went out and almost try this situation in terms of what the Integrity Commission is asking the prime minister to do. So if you know all of that, recluse yourself even for now until everything is settled. But he should not take up the offer,” she said.

Former president of the PNP, Dr Peter Phillips, who was also present at Monday’s protest, said the appointment of Chung to the FID cannot be allowed to stand, arguing that it will destroy the financial standing of the country.

“The appointment of the minister to the position of chief technical director in the Financial Investigation Division cannot be allowed to stand. We are going to protest today, and if it takes a week, a month, or a year, we will not let it stop. We don’t have any personal feelings against Dennis Chung, he is not qualified to do the job. More than that, he has compromised himself,” Dr Phillips argued.

“We have never in the history of Jamaica, a prime minister whose financial accounts cannot be certified by the Integrity Commission. They have referred it to the Integrity Commission and to the FID, and before the referral takes place, he himself proceeded to defend and clear the prime minister of Jamaica. He does not have the right to be the technical director of the Financial Investigation Division,” he added.

Dr Phillips continued: “We have to understand that what he is doing, what the prime minister is doing by appointing an unqualified person, is destroying the foundations of the financial standing of Jamaica that we have all worked for through many, many years. Our banks have long been at risk in having relations with banks overseas. They have been locked out of what you call the status of corresponding banks. This appointment of Dennis Chung is going to make it even harder because overseas banks want to know that you have a good financial security system in any country that they are going to be in. Jamaica has been trying for a long time to develop Jamaica as an international financial centre. If you appoint Dennis Chung, you can kiss that goodbye. It is dead.”

Dr Phillips, who is often credited with kick-starting Jamaica’s economic reform while he was finance minister, added that this move will make economic growth in Jamaica more challenging and weaken the country’s financial integrity.

“The prime minister said yesterday he’s carrying Jamaica back. Today’s political intimidation and conflict that we have struggled hard as a country to leave. It seems as if it was a longstanding plan. That’s why they want to get rid of the political ombudsman. That’s why they wanted to change the requirements for the FID. That’s why they have wanted to weaken the DPP’s office. That’s why he’s telling us that he wanted a chief justice to serve probation… is not the time for us to treat these matters lightly. This is a time for every good-thinking Jamaican to stand up and be counted so we can have a country that we can be proud of,” he added.

People’s National Party (PNP) stalwart Dr Peter Phillips speaks at the PNP protest against the appointment of Dennis Chung as chief technical director of the Financial Investigations Division (FID), the organisation investigating the prime minister for illicit enrichment, on Monday, June 2, 2025.

Placard-bearing People’s National Party supporters stage a protest against the appointment of Dennis Chung as chief technical director of the Financial Investigations Division (FID), the organisation investigating the prime minister for illicit enrichment, on Monday, June 2, 2025.

READ: PNP to stage protest against Dennis Chung’s FID appointment

READ: Rescind Chung’s FID appointment in 72 hours or else, warns PNP