Labourites Warned Against Vulgarity on Political Platforms

Prime Minister and JLP Leader, Dr. Andrew Holness, has warned his party’s candidates for the upcoming general election to avoid all forms of vulgarity on the political platform.

The JLP leader’s warning comes amid recent controversy surrounding South West St. Catherine MP Everald Warmington.

Warmington dropped a string of curse words while addressing Labourites in Westmoreland on Sunday.

But according to his party leader, that kind of conduct has no place in the JLP’s campaign.

Daina Davy has more in this report.

The Prime Minister and JLP Leader has specifically denounced platform statements that can be interpreted as promoting discrimination, bigotry, violence, racism, misogyny and objectification.

Dr. Andrew Holness says that kind of conduct does not represent who Labourites are or what the party stands for.

He says the conduct of his party’s 63 candidates must represent the party’s values, reinforce its achievements and exemplify its vision.

Dr. Holness warned the candidates that there must be no distractions from the party’s message as it asks the electorate to consider its achievements in government.

He says the focus must be on the party’s demonstrated capabilities in government to take on what he describes as intractable problems and execute ambitious programmes to transform Jamaica.

Dr. Holness advised his candidates that the party Secretariat would shortly be in contact to review the operational standards and reaffirm compliance.

After outlining what he says are the significant achievements in government, the JLP leader told his candidates that by their actions they must show that they are the best choice for Jamaica.

The matter of race has repeatedly been raised from JLP platforms, as various candidates have taken Opposition Leader, Mark Golding, to task over his racial heritage and his loyalty to Jamaica.

Everald Warmington, who has emerged as one of the main proponents of the racial message against Mr. Golding, has insisted he is not racist but rather a realist.

He insists that Mr. Golding has questions to answer and has urged Jamaicans not to vote for a man he alleges is descended from slave owners.