Governing party condemns Golding response to leaked PNP tape

The Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), which holds government, has charged that Opposition Leader Mark Golding did not condemn disputed remarks attributed to senior People's National Party (PNP) figures in a leaked audio clip, describing his handling of the matter as "shameful" and "a disgrace".

In the recording, speakers are said to have weighed options for undermining Major General Antony Anderson as head of the National Reconstruction and Resilience Authority (NaRRA), even as they noted what they called his strong record of public service.

Speaking to the PNP's National Executive Council (NEC) on Sunday, Golding moved to separate the party from the exchange. He said the discussion was not held in any official PNP setting and that no party officer took part. He further stated that the PNP does not operate an official NEC or executive WhatsApp group.

"This was a WhatsApp group formed by individuals within the party and the views expressed were their personal views. So those recordings do not represent the official recordings of the PNP, or any policy of the PNP," Golding said.

On Monday, however, the JLP released a statement arguing that Golding focused on how the leak came about and still stopped short of condemning the alleged remarks by members of the PNP executive.

"Golding's comments show that he is not suited for leadership," the governing party said.

The JLP also rejected Golding's account, insisting he could not deny that the comments were made in a WhatsApp chat named "Executive Members", which the party said displayed the PNP logo and counted most of the party's executive committee among its members. The JLP said Golding's comments were "misleading and a disgrace."