Jamaicans have become accustomed to nonsense spoken on political party platforms and at meetings involving leaders and hard core supporters.

On occasions, such verbal garbage has reached the Parliament itself.

We have been moved to suspect, time to time, that the imbibing of ‘spirits’ has much to do with it.

This newspaper has found reason occasionally to rebuke our political leaders for their careless talk — essentially opening their mouths without engaging brain.

However, in the latest cases, chatter by former Cabinet member Mr Everald Warmington and former People’s National Party (PNP) aspirant for the Trelawny Northern parliamentary seat, Mr Dennis Meadows, went way beyond nonsense.

It was inevitable that both would pay the price.

Mr Meadows’ apology, even if well-meaning, was always inadequate for his defence of lotto scammers — criminals who ruthlessly fleece the naïve and elderly in the US and elsewhere.

Jamaicans have felt the terrible side effects of scamming as criminal gangsters murder and maim each other over its spoils. Often, innocent relatives, friends, acquaintances, and bystanders also fall victim.

The suggestion by Mr Meadows — copying the scandalously self-serving assertion by scammers and their perverted supporters that the activity is somehow justifiable because ancestors of most Jamaicans were enslaved — is an absolute disgrace.

Without doubt, the PNP acted correctly in relieving Mr Meadows of his duties as political aspirant for Trelawny Northern. Indeed, it could be argued that, rather than wait until early Thursday, Opposition Leader and PNP President Mr Mark Golding should have acted immediately.

In our view, Mr Warmington’s departure from Prime Minister Andrew Holness’ Cabinet following the former’s assertion to JLP supporters in a widely circulated video that “…no PNP councillor [is going to] spend my money…” took much too long.

The comment from Mr Warmington, notwithstanding his subsequent apology, amounted to utter contempt for his constituents and all Jamaicans.

Also, any suggestion that taxpayers’ money somehow belongs to any member of the political directorate is entirely reprehensible.

Additionally, of course, Mr Warmington has a long, well-established reputation for rude, contemptuous behaviour — including abusive language — towards others, not least journalists.

That’s the main reason many questioned his suitability for a Cabinet post in the first place.

Inevitably, perhaps, the chickens came home to roost.

Embarrassment for the political parties apart, the horrendous comments from Messrs Meadows and Warmington underline some of the reasons for growing disaffection for, and cynicism towards politics and its practitioners.

By extension, danger lurks for our democracy and stability as a nation.

That was manifested this week in the low voter turnout — less than 30 per cent — in local government elections, following 37 per cent in the 2020 parliamentary poll.

Danger is very evident in the increasingly credible anecdotes of transactional behaviour, with reports of votes being bought and sold.

Jamaicans and their leaders must take stock.

On Wednesday, this newspaper pointed to need for a sustained, national education programme encouraging the involvement of young Jamaicans in nation-building and participatory democracy.

There is no easy way, but we have to get to it.