The Daily Prism

The Daily Prism, August 24, 2025

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) has issued a media release and social media post declaring a report by the investigative journalism outlet 18 Degrees North to be “fictitious.” The statement, promoted through a paid partnership, came just hours after the report was published on the outlet’s subscriber-only platform.

The JLP’s release claims to be a response to a new report that alleges Prime Minister Andrew Holness may have benefited from the 1990s FINSAC fallout he has publicly criticized the Opposition for.

However, the report itself, titled “MP Andrew Holness Bought FINSAC’ed House in 2002 as…,” was published today, August 24, and is only available to paid subscribers of 18 Degrees North. The fact that the content could be accessed without a subscription indicates that, while designated as a paid article, it was publicly accessible to some readers. This may explain how the JLP was able to respond so quickly to a report not yet in the public domain.

The timing of the report’s release on a day of major political rallies has raised questions about whether it was politically motivated. The action by the JLP coincides with a mass rally being held in Sam Sharpe Square, while the People’s National Party (PNP) is holding a rally in Mandeville. This timing suggests a calculated move to address the allegations on a day of heightened political activity.

The JLP’s statement is set against the backdrop of an ongoing legal battle between the Prime Minister and the Integrity Commission (IC) over an unrelated investigation into his financial affairs, which he is challenging through a judicial review.

Prime Minister Holness has strongly rejected the IC’s separate findings, describing that report as “flawed.” The JLP’s action appears to extend this stance to the new claims made by 18 Degrees North, indicating that the party views them as a continuation of what it considers to be a politically motivated campaign.

The Daily Prism continues to seek comment from both the JLP and 18 Degrees North on the matter.