Opposition leader calls for resignations of AG, justice minister

Opposition leader calls for resignations of AG, justice minister

KINGSTON, Jamaica— Leader of the Opposition, Mark Golding, has called for the resignations of Attorney General Dr Derrick McKoy and Justice Minister Delroy Chuck.

His call follows the minister’s statement that the government will appeal the court ruling which found the second extension of Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Paula Llewellyn’s tenure in office unconstitutional.

In a news release on Sunday, Golding said the statements made by Chuck and McKoy were the result of a misunderstanding of the judgment handed down by the court or they were deliberately obscuring the law.

“It is clear that the public statements made by the Attorney General Dr Derrick McKoy and the Minister of Justice Delroy Chuck in the wake of the court’s decision, represent either a profound misunderstanding or deliberate obfuscation of the law as expressed in the judgment of the Constitutional Court. Their actions have fatally undermined their credibility as holders of those important offices,” Golding stated.

“The People’s National Party is therefore calling for the immediate resignations of both the Attorney General and the Minister of Justice. We urge the administration to consider the gravity of this situation and act in the best interest of Jamaica’s democratic principles and legal statutes,” he added.

The Opposition Leader is adamant that the DPP cannot continue in the office following the court’s decision on Friday as he believes that “the continuation of Ms Llewellyn in her post beyond her lawful term is not only unconstitutional but also a grave misstep in governance.”

To further his argument Golding pointed to a letter dated April 20, 2024 from the attorney representing PNP lawmakers Phillip Paulwell and Peter Bunting in a lawsuit against the Attorney General which challenged the extension of Llewellyn’s term in office.

In the letter the attorney stated that “section 96(2) of the Constitution provides that nothing done by the Director shall be invalid by reason only that she had attained the age of retirement. Arguably, that section saves from invalidity Miss Llewellyn’s actions between her 63rd birthday (when she would have demitted office pursuant to this judgment) and yesterday. However, it would not apply to anything she purports to do in that capacity after yesterday (Friday).”

Golding added that Llewellyn’s actions on Monday would not be validated by law, “which would plunge the country into a deeper crisis”.

Following Friday’s ruling Golding insisted that the post of DPP is vacant and urged the Services Commission to move swiftly in recommending someone to act in the position.

In the statement on Sunday he said that an acting DPP should be in place by Monday morning to avoid the impending constitutional crisis that could arise from the absence.

https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/2024/04/21/opposition-leader-calls-resignations-ag-justice-minister/

Golding confirmed to lead PNP into next general election

Golding confirmed to lead PNP into next general election

People’s National Party (PNP) President Mark Golding has been endorsed to lead the party into the next general elections.

His third term was unanimously ratified on day one of the PNP’s 85th National Conference on Friday.

A change in the party’s constitution in July mandated a two-year term of office for the president and vice presidents.

Additionally, a resolution was moved which prohibits a leadership contest the year before a general election is constitutionally due.

Therefore, Golding will lead the PNP into the next general election when it is called.

The PNP’s private session continues tomorrow and will culminate on Sunday with the public session at the National Arena.

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https://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/news/20230915/golding-confirmed-lead-pnp-next-general-election

Golding scorns Clarke’s ‘no new taxes’ boast

Opposition Leader Mark Golding says the finance minister’s heralding of “no new taxes” in his opening Budget Debate presentation last week rang hollow, noting that over fiscal years 2021-2022 and 2022-2023, the Government raked in an additional $208 billion in taxes or an overall 34 per cent increase over what was projected.

“The massive increase in the amount of taxes collected from the people over the past two years brings to light just how hollow is the refrain of ‘no new taxes’ that was bellowed in this House, to the predictable but fundamentally empty beating of tables,” Golding said.

Golding argued that the 34 per cent increase in taxes collected over the past two fiscal years is significantly greater than the accumulated inflation over that two-year period, which is projected to be 12.3 per cent.

“So the taxes a bite the people and a suck out dem blood,” Golding charged.

“It comes in a period where people’s living standards are being ravaged by the cost-of-living increases,” he said.

The Government fiscal policy paper points to $766 billion in taxes that will be collected from Jamaicans this fiscal year.

This represents $150 billion – or over 24 per cent – more taxes than the $616 billion the Government collected in financial year 2021-2022. It is also $95 billion more than the $671 billion in taxes originally budgeted to be collected this fiscal year.

Golding said that the Government is projecting to collect $824 billion in taxes in the upcoming 2023-24 fiscal year. That is an increase in tax collections of over 34 per cent over the two fiscal years from April 2022 to March 2024.

“And these massive increases in taxes weren’t limited to the last two years, but if we look at the last seven fiscal years, the tax take has increased from 24.4 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) to 28.2 per cent of GDP, placing Jamaica among the highest taxed countries in the world,” charged the opposition leader as he made his contribution to the Budget Debate in the House of Representatives on Tuesday.

Giving a further breakdown of the taxes extracted from an individual since the Holness administration took the reins of Government in 2016, Golding said that the tax take from every Jamaican (15 years and older) has increased from $197,000 in 2015-16 to $365,000 in 2022-23, an increase of 85 per cent.

“This JLP (Jamaica Labour Party) administration is now extracting an additional $168,000 from the pockets of every Jamaican. Then they come with the samfie statement ‘bout no new taxes,” he added.

With the majority of taxes locally collected indirectly, Golding said that the poor and lower-income earners bear the brunt of it in paying the general consumption tax on purchases, which is projected to increase by 31 per cent, or $156 billion, in the new financial year.

Golding also took Finance and the Public Service Minister Dr Nigel Clarke to task for apparently ignoring his suggestion to cap the ad valorem special consumption tax on gas this fiscal year. The opposition leader argued that this would have given motorists, transport operators and electricity consumers a break. He said the tax was based on an average projected world oil price of US$67.50 for the year.

He explained that the ad valorem gas tax is a percentage of the price of gas and other petroleum products, so the higher the oil price, the higher the amount of tax charged for each litre of gas.

“The mechanism I proposed was to cap the tax at the budgeted oil price of US$67.50, so that the people would not suffer any additional tax if and when the oil price went above US$67.50, and the fiscal targets for the year would not be affected,” said Golding.

He further added that he had drafted the order to cap the gas tax and delivered the document to the Ministry of Finance.

“I never received a reply, and never heard a word from the minister on the gas tax cap,” he said.

Golding said that the average oil price over this fiscal year has been above US$90.00, and the Government has benefited from billions of dollars of gas tax by refusing to cap the tax at the budgeted price of US$67.50.

The opposition leader said that the special consumption tax on imports for the first nine months of the year was J$7.8 billion or 18 per cent above budget. This, he said, was in line with his projection regarding the amounts consumers would have saved if the cap had been put in place.

“Well, since you didn’t listen last time and it has bitten everyone in their algorithms, please, for the sake of the Jamaican people, listen this time,” said Golding to Clarke.

edmond.campbell@gleanerjm.com

Golding says Holness gov’t most corrupt in Jamaica

Golding says Holness gov’t most corrupt in Jamaica

Opposition Leader Mark Golding has launched a scathing attack against the current Andrew Holness lead government, labelling it as the most corrupt in Jamaica’s history.

Golding was addressing supporters of the People’s National Party (PNP) during a divisional conference at Belfield Primary yesterday afternoon.

The opposition leader, who was in a somewhat militant mood, claimed the government has failed to protect the people of Jamaica, who he says have been hard hit by escalating food and gas prices.

According to Golding, despite warnings and dialogue held with Prime Minister Holness, and Minister of Finance, Nigel Clarke, no consideration has been given to increasing the minimum wage or further assistance to the most vulnerable in the society.

“When you check a stock, nine thousand ($9,000) divided by forty in a forty hour working week is $225. A patty selling for two hundred and forty ($240), so one hour of work caan (can’t) even buy a patty during the minimum wage,” said Golding.

The PNP leader said that he is ready and prepared to assume poll-position so that “people power” will be restored.

“The people of Jamaica are depending on the PNP to do it again for them because the corner weh dem inna look dark. And we are here to bring some light, and the sunlight is the best disinfectant when we know we have a rotten corrupt government,” he added.

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http://jamaica-star.com/article/news/20220606/golding-says-holness-govt-most-corrupt-jamaica

Golding warns of harsher times

Golding warns of harsher times

Opposition Leader Mark Golding is warning that harsher times are ahead for Jamaicans and says the government must step in to cushion to blow.

Golding, addressing a People’s National Party (PNP) divisional conference in Portland on Sunday, argued that Jamaicans continue to be impacted by the fallout from the pandemic.

He accused the government of not doing enough.

“This is not the year to be so tight with the thing. This is a year when sufferation is going to be bitter on the people. Government has an obligation, a duty to cushion the crises for the people,” Golding said.

“It is not beyond the government to do that, but dem never listen. And I can tell you what you see happening now with the industrial unrest is partly because of those things, because the pressure is on public sector workers. And the process to bring in this reclassification of their employment arrangements and their salary is being done in a way that don’t build no confidence. It is being done in a way that has eroded trust in the process and in the government.

“Unions representing the public sector workers have been complaining that they have not been getting the information in a timely basis, and they are not being brought to the table to negotiate any of those details around the package. And here we have last week strike; water commission strike, housing trust strike, air traffic controllers strike, all in one week. And who next? So it is a bitter time. The people are going to be looking for an alternative to this government,” Golding asserted.

He argued that the PNP stands ready as a viable alternative to lead the country forward.

Golding argued that as a result of the tough times crime will increase as unattached youths will be looking for an alternative to make a better life.

“We can’t solve those issues (crime) with states of emergency and repressive laws that take away the rights of the people. So the people will be looking for an alternative and it is for us in the People’s National Party to show that we are ready. We have a good team and we just need to show Jamaica that we have a good team and that our team is pulling together and that we have the ideas and the policies and the programmes that can deliver for the people.

“I am telling you that the next PNP government must focus on both wealth creation for the people, but also delivering Jamaica out of some of the wicked social problems that cause us to have so much crime and violence in the country. Our primary school system and our basic school system are not delivering quality education to all our children. Some children are doing well, many children are not. It’s not that they are dunce, but it’s just that the way in which the system is organised,” he concluded.

– Gareth Davis Sr.

https://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/news/20220516/golding-warns-harsher-times

Anthony Hylton says Mark Golding can unite the PNP

Anthony Hylton says Mark Golding can unite the PNP

Member of Parliament for Western St Andrew, Anthony Hylton says he believes that People’s National Party (PNP) presidential aspirant Mark Golding has the skills and experience to unite the party.

Hylton made the statement in a video release on Tuesday in which he signalled his “strong” support for Golding to become the next president of the PNP.

At the same time, Hylton revealed that he is the chairman of Golding’s presidential campaign.

“Mark is an irie guy. He is humble. Mark engages with people well. Mark has no enemies that I know of in the People’s National Party, but Mark brings with him tremendous experience, (and) tremendous skills,” Hylton said.

“Mark has the ability to move across the entire party to unite the party at this critical period, and beyond the party Mark can play an important role in uniting the country as a whole,” he continued.

Meanwhile, South East St Andrew Member of Parliament (MP), Dr Angela Brown-Burke has been named campaign director.

Patricia Duncan-Sutherland, who had been fast out of the blocks to signal her support for Golding, was named spokesperson of his campaign earlier this month.

Golding will square off with South East St Ann MP, Lisa Hanna, in the PNP presidential election on November 7.

https://www.loopjamaica.com/content/anthony-hylton-says-mark-golding-can-unite-pnp

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Fenton Ferguson Backs Mark Golding for PNP President

Former PNP Vice President, Dr. Fenton Ferguson, is the latest PNP heavyweight to come out in support of Mark Golding’s bid to be elected PNP President on November 7.

Mr. Golding is expected to face Lisa Hanna in the contest for the party’s top job.

In a video released today, Dr. Ferguson urged PNP delegates to vote for Mr. Golding who he described as a capable and unifying force.

The former MP for Eastern St. Thomas said Mr. Golding has the appropriate experience and skill set across the private sector and Government to lead the PNP and Jamaica.

Dr. Fenton Ferguson, former PNP Vice President.

Dr. Ferguson joins Dr. Angela Brown Burke, Anthony Hylton and Noel Arscott as the prominent PNP members who’ve come out in support of Mr. Golding in recent days .

Mikhael Phillips, Venesha Phillips and Dr. Morais Guy are among the well-known PNP members who are supporting Lisa Hanna.

Fenton Ferguson Backs Mark Golding for PNP President