Durrant Pate/Contributor

Opposition Leader, Mark Golding, is making a case of government mismanagement, citing its about-turn on purchasing new school buses, having faced a barrage of criticisms from some quarters of society, in particular his People’s National Party (PNP).

He also weighed in on the government’s decision to impose a tax on sweetened beverages as a tool for pushing for a more healthier society, saying this is more of a disguise and a desperate attempt to raise more taxes. Making his contribution to the 2026/27 Budget Debate in parliament yesterday, Golding made a swipe at Prime Minister, Dr Andrew Holness.

In his salvo at the Prime Minister, Golding questioned his credibility, citing the recent announcement of acceptance of the big pay hike when Dr. Holness openly and publicly declared last year he would not accept the salary hike.

On the tax on sweetened drinks, Golding stated the tax is imposed on the volume of liquid, not in the amount of sugar in the container, and therefore provides no incentive for beverage manufacturers to reduce sugar content. Furthermore, the mere fact the Government intends to collect this tax means it intends these beverages to be bought so as to generate the tax, not to reduce consumption, he reasoned.

Water costs more than gas

Bringing a bottle of water to parliament to drive home his point, the PNP Leader remarked, “This bottle of water contains 500ML, and it cost J$100 in the corner shop or on the street. Two of these bottles of water make one litre and cost J$200. A litre of gas is J$185 at the pump. Water costs more than gas! If we really want to encourage healthy consumption, remove GCT from water and other healthy alternatives so that people can afford to buy them.“

With regards to the Environmental Levy, Golding said this has nothing to do with environmental protection, arguing, “despite its name, it goes into the Consolidated Fund as general revenue like any other tax, and is not earmarked to fund expenditures to protect the environment.”

He accused the administration of mishandling the Rural School Bus Programme, which was rolled last September by importing 110 old buses for J$1.4 billion without following competitive procurement procedures, observing that within a few months, this has been shown to have been a very bad decision, if not worse.

“We told you so from the beginning. Now, after J$1.4 billion in purchases and another J$871 million in operating expenses, you say they are switching to new buses. What a tangled web you weave when we plan to deceive,” the PNP President told the parliament, looking straight at Prime Minister Holness.

He reminded the parliament of the PNP’s plan, which would have given the people the Rural Initiative for Delivering Education (R.I.D.E.) to provide transportation subsidies, initially for 20,000 vulnerable primary and secondary students, who are outside the Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) network. 

Under this programme, the government would partner with vetted licensed transport operators and schools to deliver a cash-free, transparent system with the objective of ensuring that no child is left at home because of transportation challenges.”

Challenging PM’s integrity 

Golding called for integrity in leadership, noting, “honesty, in what we say and do, is the foundation of trust and confidence. A commitment to accountability and being transparent in how we govern and what we do in the name as servants of the people.” 

In this vein, the Opposition Leader turned the spotlight on the Prime Minister reminding the parliament, “during the 2025 general election campaign, with its manifestos and debates and platform speeches, the Prime Minister did not event hint at, much less disclose, his intention to take the massive salary increase that he had claimed he gave up when the heat reached him after Nigel announced the massive salary increases on May 16, 2023.“

Continuing his salvo, Golding trumpeted, “Then in February we suddenly learned that, effective from payday last September 2025 (i.e. right after the election), the Prime Minister would be receiving his big salary after all. This is the latest chop! A real Brogad move. It was a shameful deception, not worthy of the high office you hold.” 

In conclusion, Golding made the point, “as leaders, we must hold ourselves to a high standard, and should be quick to do the right thing by leaving the scene where transgressions come to light which are not compatible with clean and honest government.”