Dear Editor,

When is the People’s National Party’s (PNP) next press conference? I believe they have a few things to communicate to the Jamaican people, and the Member of Parliament (MP) for St Andrew East Central Dennis Gordon should be there.

JACDEN Group of Companies, owned by Gordon, again became embroiled in controversy this February. Coincidentally (or maybe not), this is the second time JACDEN has found itself in murky waters. Astute readers will recall that in 2024 Gordon resigned from the chairmanship of the Finance Committee and recused himself from the Building and Town Planning Committee of the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC) when it was reported that the JACDEN building on 18½ Lyndhurst Road was being constructed without all the necessary permissions. But I digress.

In January 2026 information surfaced that four companies improperly benefited from the misuse of the University Hospital of the West Indies’ (UHWI) tax-exempt status to import items for their use.
Nationwide News Network, reporting on February 3, identified JACDEN as the company that imported 12 dialysis machines through this mechanism. JACDEN distanced itself from any adverse findings, and letters were sent to at least two media entities demanding apologies and retractions on pain of lawsuits. One media house capitulated. Another did not. And now we come to March 7, 2026, when the acting CEO of UHWI, Eric Hosin, names the four companies of interest, one being the JACDEN Group.

What is Gordon’s response to this? Is he contrite, sober, or apologetic? Certainly not. In his first full media interview since this matter came to light, a defiant Gordon told the
Jamaica Observer that calls for his resignation are purely political, and there was no finding of corruption or criminality by his company or himself. He says he will not resign, as the auditor general (AG) has not indicated criminality.

Gordon also sought to play up the benefits the dialysis machines will provide for vulnerable citizens with financial challenges and expressed that what bothers him deep down is the effect this is having on his mother. In an impassioned plea, no doubt meant to tug on the heart strings of the readers, he says, “Listen, you can do Dennis Gordon anything, but just don’t kill my mother. She is 96, allow her to live her life comfortably rather than putting her in this stressful position and situation…” Finally, he labels this whole episode as “character assassination” and bemoans the fact that his only crime is success and the fact that he is a member of the PNP.

Gordon, in my opinion, said very strange things. Firstly, I am certain nobody wants to kill his mother. Well-thinking Jamaicans want him to admit to being part of an improper process and to at least offer his resignation as MP to his party leader and let the Opposition leader decide if keeping him on is worth the heat.

The AG not fining or indicting him is another strange thing to say. A cursory reading reveals the AG has no power in law to fine or indict anyone. The AG submits reports to Parliament, while punitive measures are pursued by Major Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Agency (MOCA) or the Integrity Commission. For those who are slow of wit — or on a quest to be deliberately obtuse — and will ask why JACDEN is being singled out for special mention, let me remind you of the plainly obvious: JACDEN is the only one of the four companies that has listed as its principal a sitting MP. If you cannot grasp the significance of this fact, I fear all is not well with you.

I now turn to the leader of his majesty’s loyal Opposition and president of the PNP, Mark Jefferson Golding. A couple questions for you, sir, if I may?

1) Did Gordon tell you that JACDEN was one of those four companies in the AG’s report? If so, when?

2) Have the chips you mentioned at the January 29, 2026 press conference the PNP hosted begun falling as yet?

I really look forward to the next press conference.

Oyeton Clarke

oyetonclarke@gmail.com