KINGSTON, Jamaica — Chairman of the People’s National Party (PNP) Dr Angela Brown-Burke has again come to the defence of PNP President and Opposition Leader Mark Golding over his citizenship status, declaring him to be born and raised in Jamaica.

Brown-Burke’s latest defence came at the recent PNP Westmoreland parish meeting. It was seemingly in response to repeated attacks on Golding by the Jamaica Labour Party’s Everald Warmington, who has claimed that Golding is the descendant of slave masters.

Declaring that she had a message to send, Brown-Burke said, “Comrades, yuh hear some people a talk bout whether Markie G is Jamaican or not Jamaican? Whether him born here or whether him have a Jamaican birth certificate?”

“Well, I am one of those who can stand proudly today to say, I have seen it with my own eyes, I know that Markie G has a Jamaican birth certificate.”

Continuing, the PNP Chairman, who is expected to easily retain her St Andrew South Western seat in the upcoming general election, said, “Many of you would have seen that Markie G have a Jamaican passport as well. And many of you would have seen that Markie G married to a wonderful Jamaican daughter. You would have seen his Jamaican children. What more do you want from the man?”

Brown-Burke told the large crowd that gathered at Independence Park, Savanna-la-Mar that, “Is the same way dem tear down Daddy (Michael) Manley say plan caw nyam. Is the same way dem tear down Joshua (Manley) and that it’s foolishness to talk about eating what you grow and growing what you eat but that is where we are today.”

“Dem say Portia (Simpson Miller) was too poor. Dem say PJ (Patterson) was too black. And what about Markie G now?”

According to Brown-Burke, “The truth is, dem jus bad mind. Bad mind a kill dem and that is the truth.”

Turning to Golding on the stage, Brown-Burke said, “Party leader, when I sit down in Parliament an I look across the isle, I see some people who look jus like you, and dem talk jus like you so I want to know what is the problem?”

She addressed Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness directly, stating, “Comrades, I want yuh to tell Andrew and him cronies fi hop off a Mark fender, hop off a him fender because we’re all here beside yuh, behind yuh to lift you up as a Jamaican with clean hands and clean heart, who has come to serve.”

— Lynford Simpson