KINGSTON, Jamaica — Opposition Leader Mark Golding has accused Prime Minister Andrew Holness of violating the principles of Westminster government by allowing Andrew Wheatley to remain a Cabinet minister despite an Integrity Commission of Jamaica report recommending that he be charged with alleged illicit enrichment and other corruption-related offences.

Golding, who was addressing party supporters at Sunday’s Admiral Town Divisional Conference, said the long-standing convention in Westminster-style democracies is that public officials facing serious corruption allegations or recommendations for prosecution should step aside while their cases are resolved.

“Andrew Holness is violating that principle. And why is he violating that principle? He’s being a hypocrite in doing so because there are several instances in the past where he was quite categorical when he was in opposition that if the situation ever arose, he would do the right thing and the person would have to step back. But he’s not doing it. He’s trying to tough it out,” Golding said.