Contributed By Anthony Fisher
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| Anthony Fisher |
Mark Golding’s Opposition leadership faces mounting questions over party discipline, parliamentary conduct and accountability.
Jamaica deserves an Opposition that is prepared to challenge the Government, scrutinise public spending, defend the interests of ordinary citizens, and present a credible alternative for national leadership.
However, being Opposition Leader is about much more than criticising the Government, delivering parliamentary speeches and finding fault with the administration. It requires discipline, sound judgement, consistency, accountability and the ability to maintain standards within one’s own political organisation.
That is why Mark Golding’s leadership of the People’s National Party (PNP) deserves serious public scrutiny.
Over recent months, several controversies involving members of the PNP’s executive and parliamentary team have raised questions about the party’s internal discipline and the standards expected of those entrusted with representing the Jamaican people.
From leaked voice notes involving party executive members to parliamentary confrontations, controversial public statements and the Coopers Pen demolition controversy involving Isat Buchanan, the public is entitled to ask one fundamental question:
Where is the leadership, and who is holding the PNP accountable?
1. THE LEAKED VOICE NOTES: POLITICAL INTERESTS OR NATIONAL INTERESTS?
The leaked voice notes involving two PNP executive members generated considerable public concern because of discussions reportedly surrounding the National Reconstruction and Resilience Authority (NaRRA) and its leadership.
The controversy raised questions about whether political considerations were being placed ahead of an important national recovery initiative.
Golding’s explanation that the conversations occurred in an unofficial WhatsApp group and did not represent official PNP policy did not necessarily resolve the wider concerns.
The issue goes beyond whether the conversations represented the party’s official position. It concerns the judgement of individuals associated with the party’s leadership and the potential implications of discussions involving a national reconstruction programme.
At a time when Jamaicans were looking to political leaders to work together in rebuilding communities and restoring livelihoods, the country deserved reassurance that national recovery would not become another battleground for political maneuvering.
Golding needed to demonstrate that transparency and accountability were more than political talking points.
2. MIKAEL PHILLIPS AND ANGELA BROWN BURKE: PARLIAMENTARY CONDUCT UNDER SCRUTINY
The events inside Gordon House on November 3, 2026, have arguably created one of the most significant parliamentary controversies in recent months.
The confrontation involving Opposition MPs Mikael Phillips and Dr Angela Brown Burke has raised serious questions about parliamentary discipline and the responsibility of elected representatives to respect the institution they serve.
Phillips became involved in a heated exchange after directing disrespectful remarks at Speaker Juliet Holness. When Government MP Desmond McKenzie intervened, the disagreement escalated into a confrontation, with Phillips moving aggressively in McKenzie’s direction.
Phillips subsequently acknowledged his conduct and expressed regret, although he claimed that McKenzie had provoked him with remarks about his deceased mother. McKenzie has disputed aspects of Phillips’ account.
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Angela Brown-Burke,
MP. |
Brown Burke also became involved in the controversy. Video footage circulated on social media showing an encounter between her and the Speaker as members were leaving the chamber. Speaker Juliet Holness subsequently alleged that Brown Burke shoved her and called her a coward. Brown Burke has denied shoving the Speaker but acknowledged using the word coward.
These incidents should not be dismissed as ordinary political disagreements.
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The Most
Hon.Julet Holness,
Speaker of
the House. |
Parliament is the highest legislative institution in the country. Its members are expected to demonstrate maturity, restraint and respect, even when disagreements become heated.
What makes the situation particularly important is that Golding is not merely another member of Parliament. He is the Leader of the Opposition and president of the PNP.
His responsibility includes ensuring that his parliamentary team understands the importance of maintaining the dignity of the House.
The question is whether the party will undertake a meaningful internal review and support appropriate disciplinary measures where warranted.
3. NEKEISHA BURCHELL: CONTROVERSY AND THE RESPONSIBILITY OF PUBLIC OFFICE
Another PNP parliamentarian who has attracted considerable public attention is Nekeisha Burchell, the Member of Parliament for St James Southern.
Her attempt to deliver part of her maiden parliamentary presentation in Jamaican Patois sparked a national discussion about language, culture, and the rules governing parliamentary proceedings.
There was certainly a legitimate argument to be made about recognising Jamaican Patois as an important part of our national identity. However, the controversy extended beyond language when Burchell subsequently made comments about Speaker Juliet Holness during an appearance on The Fix podcast.
Burchell compared the Speaker’s approach to maintaining control in Parliament with the type of control a woman might exercise over her husband in a marriage.
The comments attracted criticism from several female government parliamentarians, including Senator Kamina Johnson Smith, Fayval Williams and Juliet Cuthbert Flynn.
Burchell subsequently maintained that she had no intention of apologising for her remarks.
The bigger issue here is not whether parliamentarians should criticise the Speaker. They absolutely should be able to challenge decisions and demand fairness.
But criticism should be grounded in parliamentary procedure, sound arguments, and respect for public institutions.
Golding’s public defence of his newer parliamentarians also raises questions about the balance between protecting colleagues from political criticism and holding them accountable for their own public conduct.
A leader must be able to do both.
4. ISAT BUCHANAN AND THE COOPERS PEN CONTROVERSY: ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO SCAM THE GOVERNMENT?
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| Isat Buchanan, MP. |
Perhaps one of the most troubling controversies involving a member of Golding’s Shadow Cabinet emerged following the demolition of houses in Coopers Pen, Trelawny.
At least 20 houses were demolished during the August 2026 exercise, leaving affected residents facing uncertainty about their homes and their future.
Naturally, the situation generated considerable public sympathy, and the government faced questions about how displaced families would be assisted.
However, the controversy took another turn when Isat Buchanan, the PNP’s Opposition Spokesperson on Human Rights, made comments during a TikTok Live.
According to reporting by RJR News on August 13, Buchanan encouraged people who had not been affected by the demolition exercise to break a piece of furniture, carry it to the affected location and pretend that they had lost property.
His reported words included the expression, “Chop eh line pon dem!”
The implication was that people could manufacture claims of property losses to qualify for government's assistance.
Let that sink in!
At a time when genuine victims were trying to recover from the destruction of their homes, a politician entrusted with speaking on human rights was reportedly encouraging people to fabricate losses to obtain public assistance.
This is not simply about political rhetoric or making a joke on social media.
Government assistance is funded by taxpayers. It is intended for people who genuinely need help, not individuals encouraged to manufacture claims to benefit from public resources.
If the comments were intended as humour, they were extraordinarily irresponsible. If they were intended seriously, the implications are even more concerning.
And what makes this matter particularly important is Buchanan’s position within the Opposition.
How can a political organisation demand transparency and accountability from the Government while failing to demonstrate the same standards within its own ranks?
Golding should have been prepared to address the matter directly and explain whether such statements are consistent with the standards expected of members of his Shadow Cabinet.
Human rights advocacy should mean protecting vulnerable people, not encouraging others to exploit assistance intended for them.
5. THE COMMON THREAD: WHERE IS THE ACCOUNTABILITY?
When these incidents are considered together, they raise a broader question about the political culture and disciplinary standards within the PNP.
Consider the issues:
- The leaked NaRRA recordings: Discussions attributed to two PNP executive members about strategies to undermine a national reconstruction initiative.
- Mikael Phillips: A parliamentary confrontation that resulted in an apology and calls for disciplinary action.
- Angela Brown Burke: A confrontation involving the Speaker, including a disputed allegation of physical contact.
- Nekeisha Burchell: Controversial public comments about the Speaker and parliamentary authority.
- Isat Buchanan: Reported remarks encouraging people to fabricate property losses to obtain government assistance.
These are different incidents, involving different individuals and circumstances. They should not automatically be treated as proof of a single organisational failure.
Nevertheless, they collectively provide grounds for asking what standards the PNP leadership expects its representatives to uphold and how those standards are enforced.
Golding has explained the party’s position on some of these matters and defended members of his parliamentary team. But the public is entitled to expect more than explanations.
It is entitled to clear standards, transparent investigations where necessary and appropriate consequences when misconduct is established.
6. MARK GOLDING MUST ANSWER THE LEADERSHIP QUESTION
The Opposition Leader’s responsibility is not to defend every colleague regardless of the circumstances.
It is to provide direction, establish expectations and demonstrate that nobody is above accountability.
Jamaicans should be able to expect the same standards from the Opposition that they demand from the Government.
If the PNP wants to convince the country that it is ready to govern, it must demonstrate that readiness through its own conduct.
The leaked recordings, parliamentary controversies and Buchanan’s Coopers Pen comments all provide opportunities for Golding to demonstrate the kind of leadership and accountability he expects from those around him.
The country does not need an Opposition that is consumed by internal controversies while national issues demand attention.
Jamaicans need serious discussions about crime, healthcare, education, employment, the cost of living, economic development and hurricane recovery.
The Opposition must be able to challenge the Government on those issues while maintaining the confidence of the Jamaican people.
CONCLUSION: JAMAICA DESERVES LEADERSHIP, NOT JUST POLITICAL POSITIONING
The title JELLYBACK LEADERSHIP is deliberately provocative, reflecting the criticism being levelled at Golding’s handling of the controversies surrounding his party.
But beyond the political rhetoric lies a serious question about leadership and accountability.
Can the PNP demand higher standards from the Government while allowing controversies involving its own representatives to remain unresolved?
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Mark Golding,
Opposition Leader. |
Can Golding convince Jamaicans that his party is ready to govern if questions about discipline, parliamentary conduct and public responsibility continue to demand answers?
And perhaps most importantly, will he demonstrate that party loyalty does not come before national responsibility?
Being Opposition Leader is a position of considerable constitutional and democratic importance. It comes with responsibilities that extend beyond party politics.
Mark Golding must understand that leadership is not measured by how effectively one defends one’s political colleagues, but also by the willingness to hold them accountable when their actions fall below the standards expected of public office.
Jamaica deserves an Opposition that can offer credible policies, responsible criticism and a clear vision for the future.
The Jamaican people should not have to settle for political explanations when what they deserve are answers, accountability and responsible leadership.
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About The Writer
Anthony Fisher attended Frome Technical High and Illinois State University. He has a BSc in Mass Media. A former videographer at the Jamaica Information Service, he is now a Multimedia Communication Specialist at the University of Illinois.
Anthony is a member of the diaspora who continues to show keen interest in Jamaica. We appreciate members of the diaspora supporting Bark Di Trute.
Editors Not
I am amazed by some of the discussion in the public space and by politicians. The first question is not whether Dr Brown assaulted the Speaker, but what she was doing in the aisle when the Marshall and the Speaker were leaving the house. She should have been at her seat, standing respectfully while the Speaker and the Marshal were leaving the house. Being in the aisle shows there was an intention to do something.
If someone says some harsh words to you, that is no reason to get angry, and from all indications, a member of Parliament was about to commit assault in Parliament.
Is this the example our leaders set in a violent society? May the good Lord Help us. Some of you need to do the honourable thing and resign from Parliament.
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