Montego Bay leaders react to anti-Warmington campaign

Christopher Thomas, Gleaner Writer

WESTERN BUREAU:

Several prominent persons in western Jamaica have responded to the campaign to prevent former parliamentarian Everald Warmington from becoming a candidate for the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) in the April 4 South West St Catherine by-election.

The thrust was initiated by members of the Women in Media organisation and has received support from the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce, following Warmington's controversial responses to members of the media last week.

Warmington came under fire following an interview with CVM-TV on March 8, in which he told news anchor Kerlyn Brown to "go to hell" in response to a question about his remaining a member of the House of Representatives since 2007 despite holding dual citizenship.

Dr Beverly Scott, executive director of the Montego Bay Family and Parenting Centre, told The Gleaner that the move against Warmington should have been started long ago, including against other persons who have made similar comments.

"Public officials are role models. Quite a number of children want to be ministers of government and politicians, and, generally speaking, the decorum, attitude and behaviour of persons in public life, and especially those who are mentors and role models, leave much to be desired," Scott remarked.

"While it is late, it is better late than never, and I hope that other persons will really think before they utter such atrocities, especially when they are leaders. It doesn't matter whether you're a leader or not; adults set examples for children. We have no authority to scold any young person when we set this kind of example for them."

Marilyn Nash, administrator of the Flankers Peace and Justice Centre in Montego Bay, said she believed the issue related not only to women, but how Warmington deals with people in general, and expressed the view that as a role model his actions do not provide a good example.

"Over some period of time, I have heard various news reports of Mr. Warmington's outbursts, and basically his lack of protocol in terms of how he deals with sensitive issues," she noted.

"He tends to be disrespectful and not show the characteristics of what is expected of a leader, especially in these days when we're lacking in positive role models for our young people. So I would like to hope that something would definitely be done, and others will take it as an example of behaviour that is not to be repeated."

Timely action

Meanwhile, Lloyd B. Smith, past president of the Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce and Industry, declared his view that it was timely of the Women in Media group to have come out in unison on this matter.

"I would hope that other well-thinking and civic-minded organisations and individuals will join in the call for Mr Warmington to be not only disciplined by his party, but to be made to pursue other interests outside of Parliament," Smith declared.

He also commented on recommendations that have been made for People's National Party attorney-at-law K.D. Knight to be similarly censured for his remarks to Minister of Justice Dorothy Lightbourne during the Manatt-Dudus commission of enquiry.

"This is rather disingenuous, and does not speak to the heart of the matter, which has to do with the continuing misbehaviour of Mr Warmington in and outside the House of Parliament, which culminated in his telling not only the particular TV broadcaster to 'go to hell,' but the rest of us decent Jamaicans," he noted.

christopher.thomas@gleanerjm.com