PNP says Golding’s ‘dead Comrades’ comment intended as ‘humour’
The People’s National Party says statements made by leader Mark Golding during a candidate presentation conference in East Rural St Andrew on Sunday were “reported on without proper context” and were “intended as humour”.
During the conference, Golding stated that comrades who voted in the 2011 election should cast their ballots in the upcoming polls, boldly stating that “even some who not alive, if dem can deal with it, no problem.”
In a release on Monday, the PNP said Golding emphasised the significance of rallying support from all supporters willing and able to cast their votes.
“The statement in question was a lighthearted response to a remark from a supporter who said, ‘…wake dem up…’ to which Golding later added, “cause as they say we are the Power party,” the release read.
The PNP said without context, the portion of the speech, which is in the public domain, “has been misconstrued as literal when it was, in fact, intended as humour and was purely figurative in nature.”
The Party noted that it upholds the principles of free and fair elections, ensuring the integrity of Jamaica’s democratic process.
In a statement on Monday, the ruling Jamaica Labour Party denounced Golding’s comments as they believe it seemingly encourages voter fraud.
Dr Horace Chang, general secretary for the JLP shared that “Jamaica has made significant strides in securing free and fair elections, fostering a transparent and accountable electoral system that upholds the principles of democracy” and said Golding’s “alarming endorsement of such unethical practices raises serious concerns about his commitment to our nation’s democratic values.”
Chang went on to state that although Jamaicans should not be too surprised by Golding’s remarks, citizens should be disappointed at the Opposition’s “desperation to seize power at any cost.”
READ: JLP accuses Golding of encouraging electoral fraud after ‘dead Comrades’ remarks
The PNP also urged the Electoral Commission of Jamaica to ensure that the voters’ list is cleaned up to prevent ballots being cast for deceased persons.
