KINGSTON, Jamaica – The Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) has condemned statements made by Member of Parliament (MP) for St Catherine South West Everald Warmington regarding the allocation of state funds to the People’s National Party’s councillor-elect.

In a video, which has since gone viral on social media, Warmington seemingly asserted his intentions to limit funds and resources to the PNP’s councillor-elect in the Old Harbour South Division, Dr Kurt Waul.

In a statement on Thursday, the JLP condemned the veteran MP’s actions as it distanced itself from what it dubbed as the “suggestion of political victimisation within constituencies.”
Highlighting that Warmington’s statements are not a reflection of the organisation’s core principles, the JLP said the MP’s comments are reprehensible.

“At the core of our organisation we espouse the principles of equal rights and justice and any suggestion that the democratically elected Councillor will be victimised must be rebuffed,” the governing party’s statement read. “Mr Warmington’s comments are reprehensible and do not represent the view of the Jamaica Labour Party or its leadership.”

Warmington, who is also the Minister of Works, in a statement on Wednesday, said his position on funding for Members of Parliament and Councillors was misunderstood.

Indicating that it was never his intention to “imply that a duly elected Councillor should be denied rightful funding for their municipal division,” Warmington said his remarks were instead focused on the “established practice that MPs direct funds for Constituencies, while Councillors direct funds from the Municipal Council. These are distinct and separate channels.”

READ: UPDATE: Everald Warmington apologises for ‘my money’ comment

He also used the opportunity to clarify that his use of the term “my money” during his speech to party supporters, does not signify that he considers state-allocated funds as his own.

“These funds, allocated by the Central Government and directed in part by MPs, belong to the Jamaican taxpayers. My reference to ‘my money’ was intended to describe these allocations that I, in my role as MP, help oversee. It should also be noted that as MP I do spend my personal resources on constituency matters,” the release said.

Several social media users have called for Warmington to be sacked.