In a high-stakes political showdown, Prime Minister Andrew Holness and Opposition Leader Mark Golding engaged in a debate that went beyond policy, delving into personal history and political trust. A “Daily Prism” fact-check reveals a complex exchange where both leaders relied on a mix of verifiable facts and strategic rhetoric.
Section 1: The Economy and Fiscal Policy
The debate on the economy was a clash of numbers. Mark Golding argued that the country’s debt-to-GDP ratio had fallen to 62%, a figure supported by the updated national accounts. He presented his party’s tax plan as a way to use that fiscal space to provide relief. Andrew Holness countered that the debt projection for the current fiscal year was a more accurate 65% and accused the PNP of proposing an unsustainable plan that would compromise fiscal arrangements. Our investigation found that both leaders’ numbers were factually correct but were used selectively to support their respective positions.
Section 2: Constitutional Reform and Sovereignty
This was the most personal part of the debate. The issue of Golding’s dual British and Jamaican citizenship became a central line of attack for Holness, who questioned his patriotism. Golding responded by publicly displaying his Jamaican birth certificate, a powerful symbolic act. Our investigation further verified a key piece of information: a photo of Golding’s Jamaican passport shows an issue date of May 11, 2013, when he was 47 years old and a minister in the government. This provided a factual basis for Holness’s claim that Golding’s patriotism was a matter of conscious “choice” rather than birth.
In return, Golding challenged Holness on his personal appointment to the UK’s Privy Council, a fact we have verified. This highlighted a key contradiction in the government’s phased approach to constitutional reform, which seeks to remove the British monarch as head of state while leaving the Privy Council as the final court of appeal for the time being.
Section 3: Crime and Public Security
Both leaders used crime statistics to their political advantage. Golding claimed that murders had increased under the current administration, a factual overstatement. Holness, in turn, highlighted a decline in the overall murder rate, a verifiable fact. However, our investigation confirmed that there has been an alarming increase in fatal police shootings, a point that gave weight to Golding’s call for greater accountability.
On the issue of body-worn cameras, Holness claimed his administration was procuring thousands of them, a verifiable fact. Golding countered by pointing to the long-standing delays in the program’s full implementation.
Section 4: Press Freedom and Accountability
The debate over press freedom revealed a complex situation with blame on both sides. Holness accused the PNP of being the sole party to object to journalists. Our investigation found that while the PNP did officially object to specific journalists, Golding also revealed that the JLP had also objected to journalists during the debate negotiations. Both parties’ actions have been criticized by the Press Association of Jamaica.
In a separate instance, Holness made an unverified claim that the head of the Financial Investigations Division (FID) was a “friend” of Mark Golding. Our investigation found no public record to support this.
Section 5: Disability Rights and Social Policy
This part of the debate revealed a consensus on a key policy issue. Golding, drawing on his family’s legacy in disability advocacy, committed to implementing the policy of reserving a percentage of public sector jobs for persons with disabilities. Holness, in his response, also pledged to issue a formal directive to ministries to ensure this happens.
Final Verdict: A Clash, Not a Knockout
This debate was a multifaceted exchange where both leaders had moments of strength and weakness. It was not a clear victory for either side but a battle fought with a combination of verifiable facts and strategic political framing. The ultimate judgment on who “won” is left to the Jamaican people.
The Daily Prism 
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