PNP will not be allowed to party with Jamaica's 'rent money' - Holness
Published:Thursday | March 20, 2025 | 3:42 PM
Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness says the Opposition People’s National Party (PNP) will not be allowed to “party with our rent money”.
Holness' use of the term rent money was in reference to the country’s net international reserves (NIR), which now stands at US$5.5 billion.
This is the equivalent of 29 weeks of essential goods and services.
Minister of Finance and the Public Service Fayval Williams first compared the NIR to Jamaica's “rent money” and criticised the PNP for suggesting that it be used to address some of the pressing issues now facing the country.
Holness, who was making his contribution to the 2025-2026 Budget Debate in Parliament on Thursday, described Williams’ comment as “a more apt analogy”.
“I have never heard a finance minister describe it that way. We will not allow the PNP to party with our rent money,” he said to thunderous applause from Government members.
- Livern Barrett
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