JLP wants Women in Media to take stance against Knight

Turning the tables on the Everald Warmington issue, the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) has called for Women in Media to take a strong stance against Senator K.D. Knight for his behaviour towards the opposite gender.

More than 60 women had, on the weekend, written to Prime Minister Bruce Golding demanding that Warmington not be considered to run in the upcoming South West St Catherine by-election because of his "demeaning" treatment of a female journalist last week.

However, yesterday the JLP argued that Knight, the lead attorney for the People's National Party at the ongoing Manatt-Dudus commission of enquiry, has "a long history of highly offensive utterances, as clearly depicted in the currently televised cross-examination of Senator Dorothy Lightbourne, Jamaica's current and first ever female minister of justice and attorney general".

In a press release, yesterday the JLP asked that, in the interest of fairness, Knight be similarly reprimanded if the female media practitioners were resolute in bringing about more civility to society.

The JLP response came after party officials met with members of the media about the issue on Monday and its Standing Committee met later that night.

JLP General Secretary Aundré Franklin admitted that "all members of the JLP are representatives of the party in the eyes of the wider public and are thus expected to act in a manner that is consistent with the highest levels of proper and professional conduct as outlined in the JLP's Operational Manual".

Copy of interview requested

The JLP has requested a copy of the CVM TV interview during which Warmington made offensive comments to news anchor Kerlyn Brown, as well as a formal letter from CVM's Garfield Burford regarding an off-air conversation with Warmington. This, they said, would assist their investigation and could lead to disciplinary action against Warmington, which could range from "an apology, suspension from party events, to expulsion".

Franklin said the JLP was concerned, however, about the women's hardline position of wanting the termination of Warmington's candidacy.

In the meantime, the Women's Resource and Outreach Centre (WROC) has joined the call against Warmington.

"We welcome this initiative taken on behalf of the vast majority of Jamaicans who, as decent and law-abiding citizens, are totally disgusted with the continued offensive behaviour of Mr Warmington," WROC said in a release yesterday.

"Again, he has treated with disdain the high honour he has been given to be a representative in our Parliament and seems to be a law unto himself. His boorish behaviour is also a mockery of the values and attitudes campaign being promoted right out of Jamaica House. It is time to walk the talk about showing respect and upholding standards of decency in all our actions as women and men and we call on the prime minister to do the right thing and act decisively on this matter."

WROC's suppport came a day after the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce also called for Warmington to be omitted from participation in the by-election.