On Tuesday, July 22, Prime Minister Bruce Golding, who stated in Parliament that the collection of auxiliary fees by some high schools for this academic year was a form of "extortion", has come under harsh criticism and condemnation from the Jamaica Teachers' Association,(JTA) and The Jamaica Association of Principals of Secondary Schools, (JAPPS), who are both demanding an apology and a retraction of the statement.

Both bodies described the PM's statement as an attack on the work of administrations in the schools. The JTA, in a release, said that administrators who are dealing with the "...woefully inadequate funding provided by the government - have by creative means kept these institutions open and functioning."

President of JAPPS, Nadine Molly, said that for the PM to use the words "extortion" and "principal" in the same sentence suggests that the principals are collecting the money for themselves.