‘NO GOLD SPOON’: Holness defends integrity, says growth in personal wealth a result of hard work

By: Kimone Francis

Image caption: JLP Leader and Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness.

Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness says his ruling Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) is under no notion that it is entitled to a third term in office, but is working to ensure that the party continues in Government.

Holness, who was speaking to JLP supporters on Sunday in St Andrew East Rural, said while his party is working towards this, the Opposition People’s National Party is displaying that sense of entitlement.

“Some people behave like they own Jamaica. It’s just a matter that time come for them. It’s not a matter that they worked for it. It’s not a matter that they deserve it. It’s not a meritocracy ... . It’s just suh,” said Holness from the platform.

“But we have never, I certainly have never behaved entitled in Jamaica. Part of the challenge I face is that I represent a disruption. A real disruption for those persons who believe that they have an entitlement to Jamaica. You see, I don’t have any ‘topanoris’ in me. I am 100 per cent pure-bred Jamaican,” he said.

He said the struggle the average Jamaican goes through, he, too, endured and this has caused him to be able to direct policy.

He said his conscience is clear and his heart is clean, noting that he has never wished harm, spoken ill of, spread a rumour or lied on anyone.

In the same breath, he defended his integrity, telling supporters that he worked hard and honestly to achieve his success.

Holness said he has never been given anything for free and that he has had to work hard for all that he has.

“I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. I don’t know what a gold spoon looks like, it has never been in my mouth. I have no inheritance or any endowment or any trust fund anywhere. Whatever I have I’ve worked hard and honestly for it,” said Holness.

His comment follows the release of a court document containing the affidavit of Craig Beresford, the director of information and complaints at the Integrity Commission.

The affidavit detailed how Holness’ income and assets were under scrutiny by anti-corruption authorities from at least 2017, as investigators questioned the source of funds behind his net worth, which rose from $350,000 in 1998 to almost $160 million in 2019.

Holness tried unsuccessfully to have those details and information of investments in failed, unregulated schemes such as Olint and Cash Plus struck from Beresford’s affidavit in a judicial review case he brought against the Integrity Commission.

“I have never gained wealth by exploiting the people, no. And I want to say to you that my ethic is that I believe in working for what I have. By the sweat of my brow I shall eat bread. That is the ethic of the Jamaica Labour Party. We work for what we have. And in the same way, we are working for the third term,” said Holness.

Holness said some Jamaicans treat support for political parties the same way they treat support for a football team.

However, he said the consequences of supporting a bad government are far more dangerous than supporting a bad football team.

He urged Jamaicans who treat their politics the same way they treat football - to start looking at performance and make rational decisions.

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