Vice President of the People’s National Party, Mikael Phillips, is calling on Prime Minister, Andrew Holness, to take urgent action against Minister with responsibility for Works, Everald Warmington, for his continued arrogant and boorish behaviour.

Phillips’ remarks come in the wake of another verbal tirade by Warmington this time directed at Colin Bell, a resident of Portland and Councillor Candidate for the Fellowship Division. 

In a statement earlier today (May 4), Phillips said Warmington’s disrespectful attack on Bell was carried out in the name of the Prime Minister since he is the substantive Portfolio Minister for Works, and Warmington was, therefore, substituting as minister assigned by him. 

“In the instant case, it is well known that residents of Portland have been suffering from poor road infrastructure, dust nuisance and lack of water supplies, which led to a demonstration and roadblocks on Monday. Any concerned citizen, more so a representative of the people, has a right to seek information on their well-being from the representatives elected to do so. It is unacceptable for any citizen to be subjected to the vitriolic attack and abuse of office that Minister Warmington continuously displays”, he said. 

Phillips said the Minister’s abuse of Bell was unwarranted and undemocratic as all citizens in the parish are affected and needed information on government plans to ameliorate the misery caused by bad road conditions in the parish. He also congratulated Bell on his firm but respectful response toward Warmington.

The Vice President said the abusive behaviour should not be tolerated by the citizens as Portland is not Warmington’s plantation but rather a part of Jamaica, and he was there conducting government business related to a matter of high public interest.

Phillips has asked the Prime Minister to ensure there is no recurrence of this episode anywhere in Jamaica.