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KINGSTON, Jamaica — Opposition Leader Mark Golding has launched a vehement critique against the Jamaican government’s financial practices regarding the National Housing Trust (NHT), condemning the systematic withdrawal of billions from the housing fund for non-tax revenue purposes.

During his presentation in the House of Representatives for the 2026/27 Budget Debate, Golding revealed that the government has extracted approximately $114 billion from the NHT over the past decade, with projections indicating an additional $57 billion withdrawal planned over the next five years until March 2031.

The opposition leader emphasized the particular irony of these actions given the current administration’s previous stance. Golding recalled that Prime Minister Andrew Holness and his party had fiercely criticized the initial withdrawal implemented in 2013 by the then People’s National Party administration. At that time, the measure was introduced as a temporary four-year strategy to meet International Monetary Fund requirements during Jamaica’s severe debt crisis.

Golding highlighted the government’s hypocrisy, noting that despite previous promises to ‘ring-fence the NHT’ and prevent its resources from being appropriated, the current administration has twice passed legislation to extend the withdrawal practice throughout its ten-year tenure.

The timing of these withdrawals is particularly concerning, Golding argued, given Jamaica’s critical housing shortage. The country requires approximately 15,000 additional houses annually to address unmet demand—a need exacerbated by the recent devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa in western parishes.

The opposition leader questioned the government’s budgetary priorities, pointing out that a mere $30 billion (less than one percent of GDP) has been allocated for Melissa recovery efforts in the upcoming fiscal year. Instead of depleting the NHT’s resources, Golding advocated for empowering the institution to play a more substantial role in rebuilding resilient housing infrastructure across affected regions.

Golding concluded that utilizing housing funds to balance governmental fiscal accounts represents poor judgment, particularly when Jamaica’s most vulnerable communities face urgent shelter challenges following natural disasters.

KINGSTON, Jamaica — In a blistering critique delivered during the 2026/27 Budget Debate at Gordon House, Opposition Leader Mark Golding declared that Jamaica’s path out of “chronic economic lethargy” must be built upon unwavering integrity and governmental transparency. The People’s National Party (PNP) leader positioned ethical governance as the fundamental prerequisite for national progress.

Golding launched a direct assault on Prime Minister Andrew Holness’s credibility, accusing him of orchestrating a “shameful deception” regarding substantial salary increases. The opposition leader revealed that despite publicly renouncing the pay raise following its announcement by Finance Minister Dr. Nigel Clarke in May 2023, the prime minister quietly accepted the increased compensation effective September 2025—immediately following the general election.

“This is the latest chop! A real brogad move,” Golding stated, addressing Holness directly in the parliamentary chamber. “It was a shameful deception, not worthy of the high office you hold.”

The opposition leader framed the incident as symptomatic of broader governance failures, citing a culture where “impunity rules the roost” and officials face no consequences for transgressions. Golding emphasized the urgent need to strengthen Jamaica’s accountability institutions, specifically calling for enhanced powers for the Integrity Commission and Financial Investigations Division.

Golding challenged the government’s commitment to anti-corruption measures, questioning why the administration abandoned previously agreed-upon reforms including Unexplained Wealth Orders—legislative tools that would empower law enforcement to seize illegally obtained assets. He further demanded progress on impeachment procedures for parliamentarians and recall mechanisms for underperforming elected representatives, initiatives originally proposed by former JLP Prime Minister Bruce Golding in 2011 and updated through Golding’s own Private Member’s Bill in 2021.

In contrast to the current administration’s practices, Golding highlighted that PNP leadership had formally signed the Integrity Commission’s Leadership Code of Conduct, binding themselves to higher standards of accountability. He concluded that Jamaica cannot build a prosperous nation on “weak and wobbly ethical foundations,” positioning his party as committed to substantive governance reforms that would ensure true public service accountability.

In a robust budget presentation to Jamaica’s Parliament, Opposition Leader Mark Golding delivered a confident assessment of his party’s political resurgence, six months after the September 2025 General Election. Addressing the House from what he termed a position of growing strength, Golding articulated a vision of the People’s National Party (PNP) as a government-in-waiting, buoyed by significant electoral gains.

The political landscape underwent a substantial transformation last September, fundamentally altering Jamaica’s future trajectory,” Golding stated. “This development ensures my fifth budget address as party leader is delivered from a platform of momentum and national validation.”

Central to his argument was the PNP’s dramatic recovery from its 2020 electoral defeat, with seat representation doubling from 14 to 28 members of parliament. Golding characterized this advancement as tangible evidence that the party has firmly reestablished its pathway toward governmental leadership. The intensive groundwork since our 2020 setback has yielded substantial results and reestablished deep connections across all Jamaican communities,” he asserted. The question is no longer if we will govern, but when.”

While acknowledging the party fell narrowly short of victory, Golding emphasized undeniable political momentum, shrinking margins, and clear indicators of shifting public support. He highlighted the 2025 election’s introduction of a new generation of parliamentarians alongside those who experienced temporary setbacks during the pandemic-affected 2020 contest.

These dynamic and energized representatives, spanning from Negril to Portland’s eastern tip, have genuinely connected with constituents and demonstrated authentic empathy for their aspirations,” Golding noted. In a pointed contrast to governing party newcomers elected in 2020, he added: Unlike many debutants from the COVID election, our members are here to stay.”

The Opposition Leader specifically addressed speculation about his political future, stating: It is my great honor to serve alongside you, and I look forward to doing so for many years to come.”

Golding framed the current PNP parliamentary team as an ideal blend of youthful ambition and experienced leadership, creating a cohesive unit prepared to maximize governmental accountability and influence legislative direction even from opposition benches. He positioned the PNP as the authentic party of the people, contrasting it with what he characterized as a self-interested government.

Concluding with a declaration of solidarity, Golding dismissed past narratives of disunity: The era of intensely partisan, quasi-authoritarian governance is over. We are present, we are unified, and the trajectory is unmistakable.”

Jamaica’s Integrity Commission (IC) has officially confirmed the impending departure of Roneiph Lawrence, its Director of Corruption Prosecution, who will step down from his position effective March 31, 2026. The announcement was formally issued by the Commission on Tuesday, marking a significant transition within the nation’s primary anti-corruption body.

The Commission acknowledged receipt of Lawrence’s resignation letter and stated that administrative procedures are currently underway to maintain operational continuity within the Corruption Prosecution Division. The IC emphasized its commitment to preserving the independent execution of its functions during this leadership transition.

In an official statement, the Commission expressed gratitude for Lawrence’s service, recognizing his dedicated leadership and substantial contributions toward advancing the organization’s mandate. The statement concluded with extended best wishes for his future endeavors.

Lawrence’s initial appointment to this crucial role last year generated substantial political controversy. The ruling Jamaica Labour Party raised objections based on Lawrence’s reported long-standing personal friendship with Dr. Dayton Campbell, who serves as General Secretary of the opposition People’s National Party (PNP). This political connection sparked debates about potential conflicts of interest within Jamaica’s anti-corruption efforts.

HAVANA, Cuba — The Cuban government initiated emergency measures Tuesday to address a comprehensive nationwide power outage, coinciding with provocative statements from U.S. President Donald Trump regarding potential intervention in Cuban affairs. This electrical collapse occurred simultaneously with a 5.8-magnitude earthquake off Cuba’s coast, though initial reports indicated no significant damage or casualties from the seismic event.

While authorities haven’t disclosed the precise cause of the system-wide failure, officials confirmed that approximately two-thirds of the nation’s power grid had been restored by Tuesday morning. This incident represents the latest in a series of recurring blackouts that have plagued the island nation.

The electrical infrastructure crisis unfolds against escalating geopolitical tensions. President Trump’s remarks at the White House on Monday marked his most explicit commentary to date regarding Cuba, stating: “I do believe I’ll be… having the honor of taking Cuba” and asserting he “could do anything I want with it.” These comments represent a significant escalation in rhetoric toward the communist-led nation that has maintained sovereignty despite decades of U.S. opposition.

Cuba’s aging power generation system faces systemic challenges, with daily outages lasting up to 20 hours in some regions becoming commonplace. The energy crisis has been exacerbated by a de facto oil embargo following the U.S. ouster of Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro on January 3rd. No oil shipments have reached Cuban shores since January 9th, crippling both power generation and transportation sectors.

Citizens expressed growing concerns about the practical implications. “We constantly fear prolonged blackouts that would spoil our limited refrigerated goods,” stated Olga Suarez, a 64-year-old retiree. “We’ve become accustomed to sleeping and waking without electricity—it’s nearly constant here.”

In response to mounting economic pressures, Cuban officials announced policy shifts Monday that would allow Cuban exiles to invest in and own businesses within the country—a move potentially addressing both economic needs and U.S. demands for economic reform.