President of the People’s National Party (PNP) Mark Golding says “nothing but a resgination” will do as Jamaicans continue to fume over apparent breaches of no-movement day by Agriculture Minister Floyd Green and others purportedly at a restaurant in St Andrew.

Golding, in a statement on Wednesday (September 15), said for a sitting Government minister and his cronies to be “flossing and braffing away” as if the coronavirus (COVID-19) containment restrictions meant nothing, demonstrates “utter contempt for the rules that his Government has imposed on the people”.

“For a Minister of Government, who ought to be setting an example for the population as a whole, to be flouting the No-Movement day restrictions and partying with friends, is an arrogant insult, a slap in the face of the people of Jamaica,” the Opposition Leader remarked.

“I am calling on the Prime Minister to ensure full accountability for this disgraceful dereliction by a Minister of Government. It is inexcusable. Nothing less than the resignation of the minister will do. He must pack his bags and go,” Golding added.

See Golding’s statement in full: 

“When a Minister of Government, who sits in Cabinet and is collectively responsible for its decisions, is caught red-handed violating the spirit and intent of those laws, that Minister must be made to resign.

The country has endured four successive weeks of No Movement days, as Jamaica struggles to get this terrible third wave of the Covid pandemic under control. 

Many people have suffered tremendous pain and hardship from being forced by law to stay home for three days a week. Those without the money to stock up for lockdown, and those who hustle for their daily bread have gone hungry, as have their children. Many businesses, especially small businesses, are facing closure. People are suffering. People are frustrated. People are angry.

Last night, a video went viral on social media showing the Minister of Agriculture, Floyd Green, Councillor of the KSAMC Andrew Bellamy, various public officials and one of the Prime Minister’s photographers, indulging in a champagne celebration at a hotel in Kingston yesterday, which was a No Movement day.

Ordinary Jamaicans would be locked up and charged with offences under the DRMA for doing this. Yet a Government Minister and his cronies were there yesterday, flossing and braffing away as if the Covid restrictions mean nothing, showing utter contempt for the rules that his Government has imposed on the people. 

Jamaicans are disgusted by the continuous double standards, with one set of rules burdening the people, while the well-connected and privileged get to do whatever they like.

For a Minister of Government, who ought to be setting an example for the population as a whole, to be flouting the No Movement day restrictions and partying with friends, is an arrogant insult, a slap in the face of the people of Jamaica.

I am calling on the Prime Minister to ensure full accountability for this disgraceful dereliction by a Minister of Government. It is inexcusable. Nothing less than the resignation of the minister will do. He must pack his bags and go.”

Floyd Green is the number one trending topic on Twitter today, as Jamaican users repeat calls for accountability from Prime Minister Andrew Holness. 

Green and Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) councillor Andrew Bellamy, who also sits as a director of the South East Regional Health Authority (SERHA), were among a large group of persons recorded partying ‘good spirits’ for the birthday of Gabrielle Hylton.

• Related article: Floyd Green’s ‘no-movement’ partying puts PM in tough spot ahead of Parliament speech