KINGSTON, Jamaica — Mark Golding, President of the People’s National Party (PNP), has publicly criticized the Jamaican Government for allegedly sidelining the parliamentary Opposition in critical decision-making processes related to national recovery efforts following Hurricane Melissa. Speaking at a press briefing on Tuesday at the Office of the Leader of the Opposition, Golding emphasized that the exclusion of the Opposition threatens transparency and public confidence in the recovery measures. He clarified that the Opposition’s concerns are not politically motivated but aimed at improving the management and distribution of relief resources. Golding highlighted reports that government-funded and donor-funded relief supplies are being distributed through political representatives of the ruling party rather than through established legal channels. He argued that this practice lacks constitutional legitimacy and risks undermining equity in the response. Golding stressed the importance of including elected representatives in constituency-level decisions and called for collaboration across political lines to achieve effective solutions. He also revealed that repeated attempts to communicate with Prime Minister Andrew Holness regarding these issues have gone unanswered. Golding further commented on the Government’s introduction of legislation to establish the National Reconstruction and Resilience Authority (NaRRA), cautioning that bypassing normal procedures makes transparency even more critical. He expressed concern over the absence of the Opposition from all Cabinet-established committees, including those involving the private sector, and reiterated the Opposition’s willingness to contribute to the recovery process.