As if the timeline wasn’t already a charged minefield, the Andrew Holness Government is today (February 9) being dragged by Jamaican Twitter users for seemingly ‘throwing ethics out the door’. 

The chaos resumed on Wednesday following Robert Nesta Morgan’s post-Cabinet revelation that the Adam Stewart-chaired Sandals Resorts International (SRI) paid for Holness’ trip to The Bahamas for the Royal Bahamian Spa Resort and Offshore Island grand reopening in late January. 

Asked whether his short, fanfare-filled journey was at the expense of taxpayers, Morgan declared that the only Government cost borne by the prime minister was a US$380 per diem charge. 

“The trip was funded by the hotel, which is Sandals Resorts International. The only cost that the Government bore was about US$380 for per diem,” Morgan disclosed.

While supporters and those aligned with the leadership breathed a sigh of relief, the confirmation triggered a new wave of questions, chief among them being the implications of conflicting interests on the part of Holness.

Many have argued that the contentious issue has now taken on an ethical dimension, with others mocking the prime minister for ‘blindly trampling’ on good governance practices. 

“This should not happen. No Minister of Government or parliamentarian should accept gifts or trips or anything of that nature from a private citizen or organization without full disclosure before doing so,” tweeted @Teetimus.

A few more made connections to Holness’ ‘apple-themed silence’ during a weekend rant where Adam Stewart slammed public masking measures for children all while skewing the national motto to align with his agenda. 

Holness loyalists counterargued that the general public would have been upset regardless of the outcome, insisting Twitter users find all reasons to chastise a leader for showing support to a wholly Jamaican company. 

More still, cited the Government of Jamaica (GOJ) Conduct of Ministers document, which, on the topic, likens the mere acceptance of tokens and other gifts from private-sector individuals, interests and organisations as problematic.

“It is a well established and recognized rule that no Minister or public servant should accept gifts, hospitality or services from anyone which might appear to place him or her under an obligation, and should take all reasonable steps to prevent this,” the document read, adding, “In accordance with this principle, no Minister or public servant shall condone the acceptance of gifts by any dependent member residing in their family household.”

More reactions:

Holness, speaking in his capacity at the event, said that he was there on Government business to encourage tourism stakeholders to exercise patience as countries begin to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.

• READ: Holness urges all stakeholders to exercise patience in pandemic recovery process