The Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) has moved to distance itself from comments made by firebrand Member of Parliament for St Catherine South Western Everald Warmington to withhold funds from the People’s National Party (PNP) councillors.

Warmington, the centre of growing controversy arising from a now-viral video, pledged to prevent newly elected PNP councillor-elect for the Old Harbour South Division, Kurt Waul, from accessing resources under his stewardship.

“Me in charge right now, I am the minister of works and the Member of Parliament, no PNP councillor going to spend my money,” Warmington said.

The JLP on Wednesday, February 28, condemned Warmington’s statements and distanced itself from the suggestion of political victimisation within constituencies.

“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. Mr Warmington’s comments are reprehensible and does not represent the views of the Jamaica Labour Party or its leadership,” said the JLP.

Warmington has since retracted his statement and issued a public apology noting that his comments were misunderstood.

“I realise that my statements on funding for Members of Parliament and Councillors have been misunderstood in public discourse. It was never my intention to imply that duly elected councillors should be denied rightful funding for their municipal division. I want to clarify: my remarks were focused on the established practice that MPs direct funds for constituencies, while councillors direct funds from the Municipal Council. These are distinct and separate,” he shared.

The People’s National Party (PNP) along with the human rights lobby group Jamaicans for Justice has since condemned Warmington’s comments and called for his removal.

The Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica has expressed concerns with recent videos of members of the political directorate engaging in unseemly behaviour and has urged prompt and firm action from the Office of the Political Ombudsman.