Andrew Holness consults India’s Prime Minister as he seeks a third term
Prime Minister Andrew Holness took part in several Hindu rituals during his maiden visit to India earlier this week, including the lighting of the diya, which is used in the Asian religion to drive away darkness and bring in light.
Currently, a dark cloud is hovering over the Jamaican prime minister’s 2021 and 2022 statutory declarations, which are yet to be certified by the Integrity Commission (IC). The IC have compiled a report of their findings into his financial affairs, and has solicited the assistance of the Tax Administration Jamaica (TAJ) and the Financial Investigations Division (FID) to further investigate. Holness has however asked the Supreme Court to review the legality of the actions of the IC.
“I believe that the tabling of the report was intended to embarrass and cause harm to me and as such was made for an improper purpose and in bad faith to prejudice and harm me,” he said of the 171 page report that was tabled in parliament on September 17.
Holness had visited India from September 30 to October 3 with a Jamaican delegation, with the stated intention of solidifying bilateral relations with the South Asian country. Apart from the lighting of the diya, the prime minister, a professed Seventh-Day Adventist, also planted a champa (Plumeria Alba) sapling at Rajghat and offered floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi.
According to plantniche.com, the plumeria is “a common naturalized plant in southern and southeastern Asia. In local folk beliefs, they provide shelter to ghosts and demons.” They are also associated with temples in Hindu, Jain, and Buddhist cultures. The champa plant has an aroma that appeases the gods. It is used in the worship of all gods except Lord Shiva.
One of the highlights of the visit to India was a bi-lateral meeting with the country’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi. There was also delegation-level talks between the two leaders.