Young Jamaica seeks answers from Mark Golding on Integrity Commission declaration certification

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Young Jamaica, the youth organisation of the governing Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), is pressing Opposition Leader and People’s National Party (PNP) President Mark Golding to clarify what is happening with his 2024 Statutory Declaration, which the group says remains uncertified by the Integrity Commission.

At a media briefing in April, Golding was reportedly asked about the missing certification and linked the situation to alleged “staffing issues” at the Integrity Commission. Young Jamaica said that response does not adequately explain why the process has not been completed.

The organisation also challenged Golding’s account of what it described as a two-year delay. It noted that the Integrity Commission is legally required to publish notices confirming when statutory declarations filed by the prime minister and the leader of the opposition have been certified.

Young Jamaica said it is already publicly known that Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness has taken aspects of the Integrity Commission’s treatment of his statutory declarations before the courts. Because that case is still with the judiciary, the group said it falls under the sub judice principle.

The youth arm said Golding has not pointed to any comparable court matter to explain why certification of his declarations remains outstanding. It is asking him to give a full account of the circumstances and respond to the concerns raised, saying the issue goes to transparency and public accountability.