OPINION: Mark Golding’s white privilege is showing — and he thinks Andrew Holness is beneath him

Golding rejects invitation to meet with Delroy Chuck on constitutional reform, insisting that discussions must take place directly with Prime Minister Andrew Holness.

By all appearances, Opposition Leader Mark Golding has once again allowed his white privilege and deep sense of superiority to drive his behaviour, overshadowing the broader national interest. His recent refusal to meet with Justice Minister Delroy Chuck, insisting instead on speaking directly with Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness, is not just a matter of protocol — it’s a revealing display of political arrogance and sense of superiority.

In his October 3 letter, Golding told Holness he would only meet with the Prime Minister himself, despite Holness delegating the task to his Justice Minister — the appropriate portfolio head for the issue at hand. Golding insists that his partnership with the Government on constitutional reform cannot begin with anyone “beneath” the Prime Minister. But that statement — and his public tone — suggest something deeper than political formality. It speaks to a man who believes himself to be above those he disagrees with, especially when that person is Andrew Holness.

Let’s call it what it is: Racism and Classism cloaked in politics. Mark Golding’s behaviour reeks of the same colonial elitism that Jamaica’s independence was meant to dismantle. For a man born into privilege, whose wealth and complexion have often afforded him unspoken advantages, it’s not hard to see how his perception of power differs from that of the average Jamaican.

His unwillingness to show even basic respect by addressing the Prime Minister as Dr. Holness, despite Holness earning that title through his own hard work, is not an oversight — it’s a statement. It’s a quiet, coded message that says, “I don’t see you as my equal.” This has been consistent in the political debate, public addresses, and now in his written communication.

The truth is, Mark Golding’s insistence on “meeting only with Holness” is not about advancing constitutional reform — it’s about ego and optics. It’s about maintaining the illusion that he, not the Prime Minister, dictates the pace and tone of Jamaica’s governance, even from the Opposition bench.

GOVERNING FROM THE OPPOSITION?

The irony is that Golding speaks as though he already holds the keys to Jamaica House. His approach to national matters often feels less like a collaboration and more like a command — a posture that has repeatedly stalled progress on issues that demand bipartisanship, such as constitutional reform and the move toward a Jamaica Republic.

As political commentator Clyde Williams rightly noted, this kind of posturing only leads to stalemate. By refusing to engage through the proper ministerial channels, Golding is not just disrespecting Holness — he’s disrespecting the process. He’s also disrespecting the millions of Jamaicans who expect their leaders to put ego aside and move the country forward.

Jamaica’s constitutional reform — including whether we remain tied to the British Privy Council or move toward full republican status — requires humility, dialogue, and compromise. It requires leadership that listens, not leadership that lectures.

If Mark Golding truly believes in equality and nation-building, he must check his privilege at the door and start acting like a servant of the people, not a master of the moment. Jamaica does not need another politician obsessed with optics and hierarchy. It needs a statesman willing to meet anyone — from a Prime Minister to a Justice Minister — if it means building a stronger, fairer republic.

Until then, Golding’s actions will continue to remind Jamaicans that the colonial mindset didn’t leave us — it simply changed suits.