Opposition Leader Mark Golding is calling for the immediate removal of Dr. Andrew Wheatley from his position as Minister Without Portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister, following the tabling of an Integrity Commission Investigation Report.

Based on that Report, the Director of Corruption Prosecution determined that Dr. Wheatley is to be charged for four serious criminal charges, including Illicit Enrichment, Knowingly Making False Statements in Statutory Declarations and Failing to Provide Information to the Director of Information and Complaints as required by law.

The report, completed by the Director of Investigation on March 20, 2026 and confirmed by the Director of Corruption Prosecution on June 11, 2026, found that Dr. Wheatley acquired assets disproportionate to his lawful earnings by approximately J$164 million between 2013 and 2022, and was unable to provide a satisfactory explanation when formally required to do so.

“A Minister who has been recommended for prosecution on four criminal charges, including the serious offence of Illicit Enrichment, cannot be allowed to remain in the Cabinet of Jamaica. Prime Minister Holness must act immediately. The integrity of our public institutions and the trust of the Jamaican people demand nothing less,” said the Opposition Leader.

Mr Golding also noted that this is not the first occasion on which serious questions have been raised about Dr Wheatley’s conduct in public office. Despite his previous ministerial conduct having resulted in his removal from Cabinet for an extended period, Prime Minister Holness chose to reappoint him after the 2025 general election. This raises the question of whether Wheatley informed the Prime Minister of this ongoing IC investigation or kept it from him. Either way, the decision to reappoint him to the Cabinet has now been shown to be a grave misjudgment. 

“Prime Minister Holness brought Dr. Wheatley back into Cabinet, despite the clear warning signs. Good governance is not a mere slogan; it is a required standard. The Prime Minister has a duty to uphold that standard, immediately and without hesitation.”

Mr Golding therefore calls on Prime Minister Holness to remove Dr. Wheatley from Cabinet with immediate effect. 

He also reaffirms the People’s National Party’s commitment to integrity, transparency and genuine accountability in public life.