A report from the Integrity Commission (IC) on Prime Minister Andrew Holness’s financial affairs, tabled in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, has sparked heated exchanges between the ruling Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) and the Opposition People’s National Party (PNP).

The commission’s report found no evidence of illicit enrichment by Holness but noted that there was insufficient information to verify his statutory declarations. It recommended that the Financial Investigations Division (FID), Tax Administration Jamaica (TAJ), and the Financial Services Commission (FSC) conduct further investigations into transactions involving three companies linked to the prime minister.

On Wednesday, the PNP expressed deep concern over the report’s findings, calling for Holness to resign immediately. In a statement, the party said it was reviewing the report with its legal team but was already “disturbed and appalled” by the revelations.

“Jamaica is in an unprecedented situation where the head of Government is involved in a prolonged integrity investigation,” the PNP said. “The prime minister is clearly distracted by efforts to clear his name, which is undermining our democratic system and eroding public confidence in the Government. We urge him to step down to preserve the dignity of our democracy.”

In a swift rebuttal, the JLP defended Holness, with spokeswoman Juliet Cuthbert-Flynn asserting that the prime minister has not been implicated in any wrongdoing. Cuthbert-Flynn described the PNP’s call for Holness’s resignation as “desperate, baseless, and without merit.”

“The IC’s report does not accuse the prime minister of any illegal activity. In fact, the director of corruption prosecution suggested that the prime minister’s explanation was credible, and there was no need for prosecution,” Cuthbert-Flynn stated.

The PNP further accused Holness of misleading Parliament and the public by not disclosing that he was under investigation by the IC. They argued that the commission’s recommendation for further probes into financial transactions suggests that the issue is far from resolved.

The opposition also pointed to alleged tax irregularities involving Holness’s companies, which the IC suggested should be reviewed by the TAJ.

However, Cuthbert-Flynn dismissed the PNP’s allegations, highlighting a 2010 report by former Contractor General Greg Christie, which criticized a 2004 contract involving the then PNP Government and the investment firm Dehring, Bunting and Golding (DB&G), whose principals include current Opposition Leader Mark Golding and Senator Peter Bunting. Cuthbert-Flynn argued that, based on this report, Golding and Bunting should be the ones to step down.

The political standoff is set to intensify as both parties continue to battle over the implications of the IC report.