PNP files complaint with Political Ombudsman against Holness over protest remarks

The People’s National Party (PNP) has submitted a complaint to the Political Ombudsman, accusing Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Leader and Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness of breaching the Political Code of Conduct.

The complaint stems from Holness's call for JLP supporters to mount their own protests in response to a PNP demonstration against the appointment of Dennis Chung to lead the Financial Investigations Division.

The PNP is arguing that this amounts to provocation and intimidation, which it says must have no place in Jamaica’s political process.

Holness, speaking on Sunday at a constituency conference in St James West Central, accused the PNP of seeking to bully the Government in its call for Chung's appointment to be pulled.

Holness defended the selection process and argued that it would be a bad move for the Government to seek to intervene in the work of the Public Services Commission to appoint Chung.

He called the PNP's stance on the appointment a manufactured rage.

"I want every labourite, wherever you are, to protest in your workplace, to protest in the market, to protest wherever you are against the badmind-nism of the PNP that is going to bring down the progress of the people. Stand up labourite, stand up for justice, stand up for truth, stand up against the PNP," charged Holness

The PNP is asserting that the remarks by Holness constitute a deliberate attempt to mobilise confrontational action in public spaces.

Officials and supporters of the PNP today protest outside the Ministry of Finance to press their case for Chung's appointment to be rescinded.

"The PNP considers the Prime Minister’s remarks not only reckless but dangerous," said the party in a media release Monday.

"In a society with a history of politically driven violence, such statements pose a serious risk to public safety and directly undermine the spirit and letter of the Political Code of Conduct, which was signed by both major political parties," the PNP added.

The PNP has asked the Political Ombudsman to intervene urgently and uphold the principles of the Code.

"The party reaffirms its commitment to peaceful protest, responsible leadership, and the protection of democratic freedoms."

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