Member of Parliament for St Catherine South, Robert Miller has moved to defend Prime Minister Andrew Holness against ongoing criticisms regarding his financial affairs, which he says stems from classist attitudes within Jamaican society, particularly among those in the Opposition.

Miller, while making his contribution to the sectoral debate on Tuesday, October 8, in the House of Representatives said there are elements of the Jamaican society who fail to accept that the prime minister hailed from humble beginnings to rise to the office of prime minister.

“I have known our prime minister… for a long time and I know there are elements of Jamaican society, including those connected to the Opposition, who to this day cannot stomach the fact or accept that a boy who came from a poor background and grew up in a board house in Spanish Town, St Catherine has risen to occupy one of the highest offices in the land and has been serving his country with distinction,” Miller said. “Colleagues, I know there are classist elements in Jamaican society who will never accept Andrew Holness’ leadership and his rise, merely because he is not from the upper echelons of Jamaican society, and therefore they will forever attempt to denigrate his achievements and cast false aspersions on his character, even where it is clear there is no basis to so do.”

Drawing on his long acquaintance with Holness, Miller shared personal anecdotes from their shared upbringing, reinforcing the idea that Holness has worked diligently to overcome obstacles and serve the country with integrity.

“I have known our Prime Minister from he was a boy. We attended the same school, Spanish Town Primary, he went on to St Catherine High, I went to the best Bridgeport High. We attend the same church, Spanish Town Seventh Day Adventist (SDA). From we used to run around playing in the schoolyard or take the bus and discuss our plans for the future, from I would visit the board house he grew up in, in Spanish Town and we used to talk about our commitment to work hard and fairly to take ourselves out of poverty and to contribute to building our country in such a way that gives our fellow Jamaicans who face similar circumstances, the opportunity to make better for themselves,” he said.

He criticized those who attempt to undermine Holness’s achievements, asserting that the Prime Minister has demonstrated resilience and capability, particularly in navigating significant global challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic.

Miller also cited several accomplishments of Holness’s administration, including record-low unemployment rates, reductions in poverty, and tax cuts, arguing that these initiatives have significantly benefited vulnerable Jamaicans. He urged the public to recognise the positive changes brought about under Holness’s leadership and reaffirmed his confidence in the prime minister’s integrity and dedication to improving the lives of all Jamaicans.

There has been ongoing calls from the opposition for Holness to tender his resignation following the publication of a damning report by the Integrity Commission (IC) regarding his statutory declarations.