Golding says leaked PNP voicenotes on NaRRA tactics are personal, not party policy

The Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) is describing as “shameful” the failure of People’s National Party (PNP) President Mark Golding to condemn statements made by PNP members in leaked voicenotes, in which they were heard discussing tactics to undermine the National Reconstruction and Resilience Authority (NaRRA) and smear the agency’s head, Major General Antony Anderson. Golding on Sunday sought to distance the PNP from the recordings, stating that the views were expressed by individual members of the party – who, he said, are not “officers” of the PNP – in their personal capacities and do not represent the official position of the PNP. WATCH: NaRRA voicenotes don’t represent official position of PNP, says Golding However, JLP Communication Chairman, Senator Abka Fitz-Henley, chided Golding over the statement while insisting that the recordings were made by executive members of the PNP. “That the PNP President spent two minutes speaking about the issue but failed to condemn the comments made by his Executive Committee members is shameful and a disgrace,” Fitz-Henley said. “Golding’s comments show that he is not suited for leadership. What Golding cannot deny is that the statements were made in a PNP WhatsApp group called ‘Executive Members,’” he continued. “He cannot deny that the group has the PNP logo as its display photo and that the vast majority of his Executive Committee, including co-opted individuals, are members of the group. His comments are therefore misleading and a disgrace.” Senator Fitz-Henley further commented: “It is not surprising that Mr. Golding failed to condemn the assertion of likely delay tactics made by one of his Executive Committee members and the discussion raised by another about attaching corruption to an honourable Jamaican because both statements are consistent with the modus operandi of the PNP under his leadership.” The recordings were allegedly made shortly after the controversial appointment of Anderson as head of the agency set up to manage Jamaica’s post-disaster reconstruction and resilience.

KINGSTON, Jamaica – People’s National Party (PNP) President Mark Golding says leaked voicenotes of party members discussing tactics to undermine the National Reconstruction and Resilience Authority (NaRRA) do not represent the official position of the PNP. In the voicenotes which were leaked on social media, individuals are heard discussing strategies to undermine NaRRA and smear its CEO Major General Antony Anderson. The recordings were allegedly made shortly after the controversial appointment of Anderson as head of the agency set up to manage Jamaica’s post-disaster reconstruction and resilience. READ: JLP condemns ‘vile’ alleged NaRRA voicenotes featuring PNP executives However, in a statement on the issue at the PNP’s National Executive Council meeting on Sunday, Golding said the individuals heard in the voicenotes are not officers of the party and were not speaking in any official capacity. “This was a WhatsApp group formed by individuals within the party and the views expressed were their personal views,” Golding said. “So those recordings do not represent the official position of the PNP or any policy of the PNP.” He added that, “The PNP takes responsible for its official position – those that are set by our constitutional organs… and those that are communicated by our authorised representatives.”