KINGSTON, Jamaica — Young Jamaica has called for the immediate resignation of Opposition Member of Parliament (MP) Dennis Gordon, citing his company’s inclusion in an Auditor General’s Department report highlighting entities that were illegally benefitting from the University Hospital of the West Indies’ tax-exempt status.

JACDEN Limited, of which People’s National Party (PNP) MP for St Andrew East Central Dennis Gordon is the chief executive officer, was one of four companies mentioned in a damning report revealed during Tuesday’s meeting of the Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC).

The other companies are Supreme Laundry Services, Willman Sales and Scientific Medical Services.

In a statement on Wednesday, the youth arm of the governing Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) pointed to information presented at the meeting indicating that JACDEN acknowledged using UHWI’s tax exemption status to import items, including dialysis machines, which were then transferred directly to the company’s premises.

The group argued that such use of the exemption for a private entity, which it says is now under investigation by the Integrity Commission and the Major Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Agency, has deprived taxpayers of millions of dollars that could have supported vital services to the public.

“Young Jamaica is of the view that given his company’s status as a prime beneficiary of the unlawful use of UHWI’s tax exemption privilege and the additional burden the unlawful arrangement has placed on taxpayers, Dennis Gordon’s positions as Member of Parliament, PNP Region 3 chairman and PAC member, are untenable,” it said.

Consequently, the group is calling on Gordon to immediately resign from all three positions.

The group also criticised PNP President Mark Golding, arguing that his failure to act against Gordon undermines his stance on accountability and raises questions about his commitment to principles of transparency and good governance.

READ: Companies that benefitted from UHWI tax exempt status named