Golding presses for Wheatley’s cabinet exit as Integrity Commission report lands

Opposition Leader Mark Golding is calling for the immediate removal of Cabinet Minister Dr Andrew Wheatley after Parliament received an Integrity Commission investigation report on Wednesday that recommends criminal prosecution.

The report states that Dr Wheatley had some $164 million in unexplained assets between 2013 and 2022. The Director of Corruption Prosecution has determined that he should face four charges, including illicit enrichment, knowingly making false statements in statutory declarations, and failing to provide information to the Integrity Commission.

Golding, who leads the People’s National Party, questioned why Dr Wheatley was returned to Cabinet following the 2025 general election despite what he described as clear warning signs, describing the move as a grave misjudgment. The opposition was holding a press briefing on the matter at the Office of the Leader of the Opposition.

Political analyst Jermaine Barrett said Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness should consider asking Dr Wheatley to step aside. With the commission recommending prosecution, Barrett argued the minister would likely be preoccupied with clearing his name rather than managing his portfolio, and suggested the ministry could be folded into another.

Jamaicans for Justice is pressing for greater transparency and stronger human rights safeguards as the Government negotiates an agreement with the United States to temporarily receive non-Jamaican deportees. Executive Director Mickel Jackson said the arrangement could raise serious questions about Jamaica’s obligations under international refugee law and the treatment of people who may face persecution at home.

Three men died in a three-vehicle collision along the Braeton main road in Trelawny on Wednesday night at about 9:00 p.m. The crash involved a white Toyota Hiace, a Toyota Voxy, and a black Toyota Fielder. Preliminary findings from the Public Safety and Traffic Enforcement Branch point to improper overtaking, loss of control, and excessive speed. The victims were two male drivers, aged 29 and 22, and a male passenger; their identities had not been confirmed as investigations continued.

Chairman of the National Road Safety Council, Dr Lucien Jones, said the deaths pushed road fatalities for June to 23 and the year-to-date toll to 134. He renewed his call for a demerit point system to suspend persistently errant drivers.

The Area 3 police division has launched Operation Reset to tackle crime across Clarendon, Manchester, and St Elizabeth. Assistant Commissioner of Police Christopher Phillips said the initiative adopts a zero-tolerance posture and will push back against criminality, including land-related disputes. He reported that murders in the division rose 55%, from 34 to 52, while shootings increased 15%, from 34 to 39, compared with the same period last year.

The PNP’s Culture and Heritage Commission is urging the Government to formally designate June 16 as a national day of recognition for Leonard Percival Howell, widely regarded as founder of the Rastafari movement, as Jamaica marks the 128th anniversary of his birth. The commission said the observance would not be a public holiday but would help preserve Howell’s legacy and educate future generations.

Dr Gavin Myers, principal director of National Integrity Action, described the Integrity Commission report as detailed and said it underscored the need for institutions that support probity in public office. Asked whether Dr Wheatley should leave Cabinet, Myers cited past cases in which ministers were removed amid integrity concerns, including Dr Wheatley’s own departure from the energy portfolio in 2018, and said Prime Minister Holness should act on the evidence before him. Dr Wheatley has rejected the report as false and misleading.