Government Senator Abka Fitz-Henley is criticising PNP President Mark Golding for weak leadership and failing to respond strongly to  shameful and inappropriate statements made by two senior members of his party.

Senator Fitz-Henley says it is unacceptable that Golding has not addressed comments by his Spokesman on Human Rights, Isat Buchanan, who encouraged people in Trelawny to pretend they suffered property damage in order to benefit from taxpayer-funded houses.

Fitz-Henley says it is also unacceptable that Golding has failed to strongly condemn remarks by a PNP Councillor, who is a member of the Party’s Executive Committee and admitted that the PNP will probably use delay tactics to block projects under NaRRA.

NaRRA is intended to help Jamaicans recover more quickly from the massive impact of Hurricane Melissa, which wiped out 56 percent of GDP.

Senator Fitz-Henley stated “It is totally unacceptable that the Opposition Leader has not seen it fit to, at minimum, condemn comments by a lawmaker and his Shadow Spokesman encouraging Jamaicans to chop the line and collect benefits under false pretences. His failure to condemn the delay tactics that a senior member of his Party’s Executive committed the PNP to is also unacceptable, but it shows that Mr. Golding does not act based on principle. He is a politician who acts only when it is convenient for him to do so, and that is not good leadership.”

Senator Fitz-Henley says the Jamaica Labour Party is fully committed to the rule of law and does not encourage people to attempt to trick the state in order to obtain benefits.

Fitz-Henley says, notwithstanding the inappropriate delay tactics of the PNP, the governing Jamaica Labour Party remains committed to assisting Jamaicans to recover as quickly as possible from the massive setback caused by Hurricane Melissa.