ST JAMES, Jamaica — Pointing to what she says have been roadblocks placed by Opposition Leader Mark Golding on the road to Jamaica becoming a republic, Minister of Legal and Constitutional Affairs, Marlene Malahoo Forte, Sunday evening launched a broadside against him, saying he cannot be trusted with the process.

She also told cheering Labourites that Golding could not stand in the shoes of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Leader, Andrew Holness.

“I say we must take sleep and mark death because Mark Golding cannot be trusted, he cannot be trusted,” Malahoo Forte declared during the JLP manifesto launch in Sam Sharpe Square, St James.

“He wrote to Andrew Holness asking him to move on with the change of Jamaica becoming a Republic, and because he wanted it his way, he took the highway and refused to cooperate… He has ensured that we have stalled in the process, and I don’t know if it is because he has a loyalty that he cannot get rid of, but what I know for sure is that he cannot be trusted,” she added.

Malahoo Forte called on Jamaicans to reject Golding and his version of the reforms.

“All he is telling you about the reforms that he will bring, he cannot be trusted to lead the process and we must send him a message that we do not trust him to lead the process of Jamaica becoming a Republic and we are not going to stand by and have our people and our Jamaicaness take second place to any other nationality,” she declared.

“We are not British, we are Jamaicans and we want a head of state that is Jamaican, that represents who we are, and he is standing in the way of that process,” she insisted.

According to Malahoo Forte, the JLP is committed to making Jamaica a republic, and she urged all stakeholders to get involved in the process.

She also called out Golding for what she sees as his hypocrisy in questioning Holness’ integrity.

“I want Mark Golding, since he has made integrity an issue of this campaign, to tell the people of Jamaica how you came to succeed in the seat that you are,” she thundered.

“What price did you pay and what did you gain? I think it is only fair that you tell the people of Jamaica. We don’t want to speculate, tell us your role in FINSAC, tell us your relationship with the former minister of finance, tell us how your companies earned the profits off the backs of Jamaicans,” said Malahoo Forte.

She said the difference between Golding and Holness is clear.

“I want to tell Mark Golding that at no time can he stand in the shoes of Andrew Holness!” said Malahoo Forte.