KINGSTON, Jamaica — Opposition Leader Mark Golding has posited that integrity and honesty are crucial to Jamaica lifting itself out of what he describes as “chronic economic lethargy”.

“At the core of the solution is integrity. Honesty, in what we say and do, is the foundation of trust and confidence. A commitment to accountability and being transparent in how we govern and what we do …as servants of the people,” said Golding.

He was speaking on Tuesday during his contribution to the 2026/27 Budget Debate at Gordon House where he also took a swipe at Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness for taking what Golding described as his “big salary increase”.

“We must strengthen, not weaken or undermine, the national institutions that were established to promote these principles and hold perpetrators accountable for corruption — in particular [through] the Integrity Commission and Financial Investigations Division,” said Golding.

Turning to Holness, he said, “During the 2025 general election campaign, with its manifestos and debates and platform speeches, the prime minister did not event hint at, much less disclose, his intention to take the massive salary increase that he had claimed he gave up when the heat reached him after [Dr] Nigel Clarke announced the massive salary increases on the 16th May 2023. Then in February we suddenly learned that, effective from payday last September 2025 — right after the election — the prime minister would be receiving his big salary after all.”

“This is the latest chop! A real brogad move. It was a shameful deception, not worthy of the high office you hold,” he told Holness, who was seated in the chamber.

Continuing, Golding said, “As leaders, we must hold ourselves to a high standard, and should be quick to do the right thing by leaving the scene when transgressions come to light which are not compatible with clean and honest government. In Jamaica today, the reverse all too often prevails. Impunity rules the roost, as persons in positions of responsibility become serial transgressors, and it doesn’t seem to matter because nothing happens to hold them to account.”

“We cannot build the nation that our people aspire to and deserve on such weak and wobbly ethical foundations,” Golding added.

“This is why we on this side have signed the Leadership Code of Conduct produced by the Integrity Commission, committing ourselves to upholding principles of good governance and being accountable if we fail to do so,” he told the House.

Turning to Holness once more, Golding said, “You should be further strengthening the anti-corruption arsenal by introducing the important tool of Unexplained Wealth Orders to further reinforce the tools available to law enforcement for recovering illegally-obtained income and wealth. That was agreed upon from 2019, but you have cast it asunder.”

“Why have you abandoned the procedures of impeachment of parliamentarians and other holders of high public office that former JLP (Jamaica Labour Party) prime minister Bruce Golding tabled in this House in 2011 and I updated by tabling a Private Member’s Bill in 2021?” he asked.

“Why are you not pursuing procedures for the recall of non-performing elected representatives, to ensure that there are consequences when conduct and performance fall below what is acceptable in a free and democratic society based on the rule of law?”

Golding said the People’s National Party remains committed to these reforms that will enhance accountability and good governance.

— Lynford Simpson