'I will be here', says Golding on being PNP president
Published:Thursday | September 11, 2025 | 2:17 PM
People’s National Party (PNP) president Mark Golding says he will continue to lead as long as the party maintains confidence in him.
Golding, addressing a PNP post-general election event today, said he is someone who believes in service and will continue to give of himself for the betterment of the PNP and Jamaica.
“Thus far, all of the MPs who have been elected — all 28, except one who is currently travelling overseas — have signed a letter confirming their confidence in me and their desire for me to remain as Leader of the Opposition,” Golding said, noting that party leaders in the past have either offered their resignation after an election loss or chosen to remain.
Golding's comments came in response to a question on whether he would resign following the election.
The Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) won the general election on 3 September by securing 35 of the 63 seats in Parliament.
The PNP won 28 seats.
Golding noted that the PNP previously held 14 seats in the House of Representatives and has now doubled its representation in the 2025 elections, arguing that this constitutes a victory for the party.
“I feel a continued commitment to my country, Jamaica — where I was born and where I have lived all my life, except for a period of studying abroad — a country that has been very good to me, and in which my parents instilled in me a sense of service to the people.
“I am willing to continue, and plan to continue, to serve my country through the political process as leader of the People’s National Party (PNP),” Golding said.
He added that the PNP is looking ahead and plans to build on the gains made in the election.
Meanwhile, PNP General Secretary Dr Dayton Campbell defended the party’s election performance.
“There are some things being said in the public space that just aren’t true. Andrew Holness [Leader of the Jamaica Labour Party] was defeated by Portia Simpson Miller in 2011. It seems people have forgotten that. He did not resign, nor did he offer his resignation. He remained in position and did not even make public the appraisal committee report that was produced,” Campbell said.
Campbell added that, at the time, 10 of the 21 JLP MPs signed a no-confidence letter against Holness following his loss to Simpson Miller.
“I also hear people saying it’s historic and unprecedented — this third term — while some of the same individuals complain about the PNP being in office for 18 years.
“The PNP won four consecutive elections in Jamaica, so what is historic? It’s historic for the JLP that they have now won three elections — but it’s not historic for Jamaica. P. J. Patterson won in 1993, 1997, and 2002. Why do we continue to mislead the public in this vulgar manner?” Campbell said.
- Andre Williams
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