Markland Edwards backs Andrew Wheatley

Says Minister deserves due process amid Integrity Commission Fallout

As pressure mounts on Prime Minister Andrew Holness to remove Dr. Andrew Wheatley from the Cabinet, Jamaica Labour Party stalwart and aspiring Portmore Mayoral candidate  Markland Edwards has thrown his full support behind the embattled government minister, insisting that the rule of law—not public opinion—must determine the outcome of the controversy.

Edwards issued a strong statement on the heels of a damning Integrity Commission report recommending that Wheatley, the Member of Parliament for St Catherine South Central, be charged with illicit enrichment after investigators concluded that he possessed approximately $164 million in assets allegedly disproportionate to his lawful income between 2010 and 2022 and failed to provide a satisfactory explanation for the discrepancy.

The report, tabled in Parliament last Wednesday, has triggered a growing wave of calls for Wheatley’s resignation from Cabinet, with business groups, civil society organisations and church leaders arguing that he should step aside while the matter is resolved.

Edwards, however, maintains that such demands undermine one of the country’s most fundamental legal principles.

“As a dedicated servant of our great Jamaica Labour Party and a prospective leader for the municipality of Portmore, I stand in unwavering support of the Honourable Dr. Andrew Wheatley,” Edwards said.

“Our justice system is founded on the sacrosanct principle that every individual is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Dr. Wheatley has vehemently refuted the conclusions of the Integrity Commission, and I respect his commitment to defending his integrity and reputation through the proper legal channels.”

Edwards argued that while public life inevitably attracts political scrutiny, allegations alone should not be treated as proof of wrongdoing.

“The true measure of a leader is found in resilience and in allowing the full truth to emerge,” he said. “I believe in Dr. Wheatley’s credibility, his character and the tireless work he has contributed to our country. We must allow the judicial process to unfold fairly and objectively.”

The politician also cautioned against what he described as “trial by public opinion,” warning that administrative bodies should not become “judge, jury and executioner” before the courts have had an opportunity to hear the case.

“Dr. Wheatley has a constitutional right to due process,” Edwards said. “He has already instructed his legal team to vigorously contest these claims. Our Prime Minister has rightly pointed out that no formal charges have yet been laid. It is the courts—not partisan public trials—that must determine the truth.”

Notably, the IC investigation also found that Wheatley failed to fully comply with requests for information from the Integrity Commission and omitted assets and liabilities from statutory declarations filed with the commission. Investigators concluded that some of those omissions related to declarations submitted in 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2021.

Additionally, Wheatley failed to disclose at least five loans, an investment in a company in which he was both a director and shareholder, and full particulars relating to a number of properties.

However, Edwards warned that forcing ministers from office solely on the basis of investigative findings could establish a troubling precedent.

“Demanding a minister’s immediate resignation based on unproven allegations sets a dangerous precedent, weaponising investigations to achieve political objectives,” he said.

“I stand firmly with Dr. Andrew Wheatley. I have full confidence in his integrity, his character and his ultimate legal vindication. We must resist the urge to erode public trust through premature condemnation.”

Despite those sentiments, pressure on the Government continues to intensify.

The Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ) has joined a growing list of organisations calling on Prime Minister Andrew Holness to remove Wheatley from his position as Minister without Portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister until the allegations are fully and conclusively resolved.

Several church groups and members of civil society have echoed that position, arguing that temporarily stepping aside would help preserve public confidence in the integrity of government while legal proceedings take their course.

For now, Wheatley continues to reject the Integrity Commission’s findings and is expected to challenge them through the courts, setting the stage for what could become one of the most closely watched political and legal battles in recent years.