‘Wi likkle but wi tallawah’ - Golding warns that small Opposition will have outsize power in reining in corruption

Newly appointed Leader of the Opposition Mark Golding sent a strong message to the Holness administration on Tuesday, warning that he would keep the Government in check and be fearless in reining in corruption and malfeasance.

Golding, 55, declared that although the Opposition was vastly outnumbered in the House of Representatives - after its 14-49 trouncing in the September 3 general election - its presence would be felt nationally. He signalled his intention not to be in the minority for long.

“Now, more than ever, our nation needs a strong and responsive Opposition. Though our numbers in Parliament are relatively small, wi likkle, but wi tallawah,” Golding said on Tuesday at King’s House as he accepted his role while receiving the instrument of appointment from Governor General Sir Patrick Allen.

But only a few of the MPs on his side of the aisle came to support him at the ceremony.

Lisa Hanna, who lost to Golding by 296 votes in last Saturday’s presidential contest, was noticeably absent.

Hanna revealed that she was ordered by her doctors to stay home for the next four days because of a severe chest cold and sinus complications.

The majority of opposition MPs did not back Golding’s candidacy.

But even with limp parliamentary support, Golding nonetheless gave his charge.

He signalled that he would reach out to civil-society groups in holding the Government accountable while building consensus.

But he promised not to be trivial.

“We will not oppose for its sake, but always with the objective of strengthening the governance of the country. We will seek to be constructive and be fearless and unrelenting in the face of corruption or maladministration, wherever it arises,” Golding, who replaces Dr Peter Phillips as opposition leader, said.

The declaration of unity that both Hanna and Golding signed prior to Saturday’s race is also being put to the test because Mikael Phillips was the only pro-Hanna opposition MP who turned up at the function, although there was limited capacity because of coronavirus containment protocols.

Outgoing chairman of the PNP, Fitz Jackson, who was photographed at one of Hanna’s meetings, was also absent.

Julian Robinson, the party’s general secretary, was present.

Still, Golding insisted on unity in the party.

“We want to really go through a process of bringing everyone together. After a campaign, that is always important. We are going to go about it in a deliberate way,” Golding told The Gleaner on Tuesday.

When asked about how Saturday’s win was secured, Golding said the team had campaigned on the correct issues.

He said the parish-by-parish vote results were consistent with feedback on the ground.

“Our canvass was very good, and I wasn’t really surprised,” Golding told The Gleaner.

romario.scott@gleanerjm.com