PNPYO demands apology from Young Jamaica over comments on Golding’s statutory declaration

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The People’s National Party Youth Organisation (PNPYO) is calling on Young Jamaica and the Jamaica Labour Party’s Communications Taskforce to issue an immediate and public apology for the dissemination of what they say is a reckless, baseless, and malicious statement concerning Opposition Leader Mark Golding’s 2024 statutory declaration.

In a statement on Monday, the PNPYO referenced a June 4 statement from Young Jamaica, which called on Golding to give an account for his 2024 statutory declaration.

The PNPYO, however, noted that the certification by the Integrity Commission of Opposition Leader Mark Golding’s 2024 statutory declaration was published in the Jamaica Gazette on May 26, 2026, more than a week before Young Jamaica’s press release was issued.

“The Jamaica Gazette is the official state newspaper and journal of record for the Government of Jamaica and serves as the official medium through which such information is published to the public. Even the most basic level of due diligence would have revealed the facts before Young Jamaica chose to issue its statement,” the PNPYP said.

The youth organisation questioned whether it was a deliberate attempt to tarnish the reputation of Golding.

“We are proud to be led by a leader such as Mark Golding, MP, whose statutory declarations have been certified by the Integrity Commission every year since he became a Member of Parliament in 2017, including for the year ending December 31, 2024,” the organisation noted.

PNPYO General Secretary Peta-Gay Ferguson said, “The prime minister and the minister with responsibility for information have repeatedly pledged to fight misinformation and correct falsehoods when they arise. This is their opportunity to prove that those commitments are more than talking points.”

She continued, “If an apology to the Leader of the Opposition is not forthcoming, it will speak volumes about how seriously the JLP and its affiliates truly take transparency, accountability, and honest public discourse.”

Ferguson stated, “As young leaders, we have to hold ourselves to a high standard and strive to operate above the fray at all times. It is unfortunate that Young Jamaica chooses to engage in this kind of political tomfoolery, while they and G2K remain largely missing from policy discourse and advocacy on the myriad issues affecting Jamaica’s youth.”

The PNPYO is also calling on Young Jamaica to apply the same standards of accountability to its own leadership, highlighting that while Golding has been certified annually since 2017, Prime Minister Andrew Holness has remained uncertified since 2021.