Young Jamaica, the youth arm of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), is calling on all civil society groups to hold Opposition Leader Mark Golding accountable for his dual citizenship situation and to critically examine his stance on the country’s political future. 

The group, in a late Monday (May 20) statement, claimed that Golding “consistently pushed for legislative changes that would allow dual citizens to sit in the Jamaican Parliament”.

Our Today could not immediately verify this claim.

This stance, according to Young Jamaica, “raises significant concerns given Golding’s own dual citizenship status as it reveals a fundamental conflict of interest”.

After being dogged by questions of his citizenship, Golding revealed in a Jamaica Gleaner interview earlier this week that he indeed held both Jamaican and British citizenship.

There have been calls for Golding to renounce his British citizenship, however, he contended that the law does not require him to do so to serve in Parliament. The Jamaican Constitution currently allows Commonwealth citizens aged 21 and older to sit in Parliament.

The opposition leader assumes UK nationality by virtue of his father, renowned physician Professor Sir John Golding, who actively practised during 1950s Jamaica. Sir John conceptualised the eponymous rehabilitation centre in St Andrew in response to a devastating polio outbreak in the country.

“It begs the question, how can a leader who holds allegiance to another country be fully committed to Jamaica’s best interests? This is particularly pertinent as Jamaica debates the critical issue of transitioning to a republic. Golding, who has shown little incentive to prioritize this national objective, appears more focused on ensuring his personal and political survival than on championing Jamaica’s sovereignty,” Young Jamaica argued.

To this end, the JLP-aligned youth organisation has called for civil society groups “to scrutinise Golding’s motives and actions”.

“By advocating for dual citizens to sit in Parliament, Golding is effectively seeking to rewrite the rules for his benefit, undermining the integrity of our legislative framework. This hypocrisy is not only an affront to the Jamaican people but also a stark indication of where Golding’s true interests lie – pure political gain.”

Echoing rhetoric by Prime Minister Andrew Holness during yesterday’s CVM TV interview, the organisation insists that Jamaica deserves leaders who are wholly committed to the nation’s advancement and free from divided loyalties.

WATCH:

Jamaica is my final destination and I have no escape plan that’s why I want what’s in Jamaica’s best interest.

When you can run away from Jamaica what interest do you truly have in what’s good for us? pic.twitter.com/jx1UBtD7sN

— Andrew Holness (@AndrewHolnessJM) May 21, 2024

“It is essential that we remain vigilant and question the intentions of those who seek to shape our laws and our future. Civil society groups must rise to this occasion, calling out Mark Golding for attempting to deceive the public and urging him to put Jamaica first,” Young Jamaica noted in its statement.

“Young Jamaica stands firm in its belief that national leaders must embody the highest standards of loyalty and we call on all Jamaicans to reject the self-serving agendas of individuals who prioritise personal gain over national interest,” the group added.