Mark Golding must give full explanation about why his 2024 Statutory Declaration has not been certified

Young Jamaica, the youth arm of the governing Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), is calling on Opposition Leader and President of the People’s National Party (PNP), Mark Golding, to provide the Jamaican people with a full and transparent explanation regarding the status of his 2024 Statutory Declaration, which, to date, has not been certified by the Integrity Commission.

In April of this year, when questioned during a media briefing about the absence of certification, Golding blamed alleged “staffing issues” at the Integrity Commission for the Commission not publishing certification of his 2024 statutory declarations. Young Jamaica finds this explanation unsatisfactory and insufficient to account for the prolonged delay in the certification process.

Young Jamaica rejects that explanation for the two-year delay proffered by Golding as implausible and fanciful. The Integrity Commission is mandated by law to publish notices confirming the certification of the Statutory Declarations submitted by both the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition.

It is a matter of public record that Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness has challenged aspects of the Integrity Commission’s handling of his Statutory Declarations through the Courts. That matter remains before the judiciary and is therefore subject to the sub judice principle.

However, no such legal proceedings have been cited by Golding as an explanation for the outstanding certification of his declarations. Accordingly, Young Jamaica reiterates its call for Golding to provide a full account of the circumstances surrounding this matter and to address the concerns that have arisen in the interest of transparency and public accountability.