Generation 2000 (G2K) is criticising Mark Golding over what it says is the People’s National Party (PNP) president’s silence on former party representative Jolyan Silvera’s conviction and sentencing for the shooting death of Silvera’s wife.

In a news release on Sunday, the Jamaica Labour Party’s young professional affiliates’ group said it finds Golding’s “silence” disappointing, inconsistent, and unacceptable.

“G2K recalls that in a previous incident which concerned alleged and unproven allegations of domestic abuse, and where there was no fatality, Golding recorded a video and strongly condemned the alleged act and made demands for disciplinary action,” G2K said.

“We are of the view that Golding’s silence on the confession, conviction, and sentencing of his close political associate, who has in the past been photographed escorting him around the country and providing ‘umbrella-holding services,’ is unbecoming,” it added.

G2k suggested that Golding only chooses to speak out against domestic violence when it is politically convenient for him to do so.

It further called on the PNP president to welcome the conviction and sentencing of Silvera and make it clear that Silvera will not be welcomed by the PNP should he be granted parole.

“We also call on the PNP president to apologise for his Facebook page initially announcing that Melissa Silvera ‘passed away.’ Regrettably, that post led the way in spreading the false narrative that Melissa had died in her sleep of natural causes,” G2K said.

Silvera was on Friday sentenced to just under 21 years in prison for the November 10, 2023 killing of his wife. He was sentenced to 20 years for manslaughter and 20 years and 10 months for using a firearm to commit manslaughter.

The sentences are to run concurrently, and he will have to serve 13 years before he is eligible for parole on the latter charge.

Generation 2000 said its thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of Melissa Silvera.

“We understand their expressed disappointment at the parole aspect of the sentencing of Jolyan Silvera and trust that closure will be found,” the organisation said.