The Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ) is calling for political representatives to be responsible in their discourse with their supporters and the general public.

In a statement this afternoon, the PSOJ declared it was disappointed with recent comments by Government minister Everald Warmington, which the organisation labelled “racially divisive”.

“These comments have no place in the Jamaican context now or in the past as it is totally inconsistent with our motto ‘out of of many one people’,” the PSOJ said.

“Our Political Code of Conduct says party officials (including platform speakers) should not make statements which “are malicious in reference to opposing candidates, their families and party officials.

“These utterances by Warmington directly contradict the Political Code of Conduct signed by all our political representatives. Our political leaders have a moral responsibility to ensure that we adhere to the code of conduct and most importantly provide a good example by setting the tone for a decent, inclusive and harmonious society.

“We cannot expect to positively address our social issues if our leaders display poor judgement in their tone and statements towards each other. Distasteful and divisive statements from either side of the political fence cannot be condoned or supported. It is our collective duty to hold each other accountable for our conduct which no doubt can influence anti-social behaviours in society.

“We are encouraging both the Prime Minister and Opposition Leader to take the higher ground in the interest of managing the tone of the communication of their political operatives in line with our agreed political code of conduct.

“We must stand by our motto, ‘Out of Many One People’. This is who we are, and as political leaders must be echoed and embraced.”

Though the PSOJ did not indicate to which specific comment from Warmington it referred, the Jamaica Labour Party Area Council Two chairman is reported to have recently stated during a political meeting that Opposition Leader Mark Golding would never become prime minister of Jamaica because of his skin colour, will never become prime minister of Jamaica because of his skin colour.

According to media reports, during a St Catherine North Eastern constituency conference last Sunday evening, Warmington suggested Golding’s race raised questions about his family background and legitimacy as a future leader of the country.

Said Warmington: “Dem use to sey my leader born yah. [Edward] Seaga born a Boston because of accident, wey Mark Golding mother and father come from?

“So don’t talk say my leader born yah and you attack Seaga and you don’t attack this leader. If he wants to be prime minister go back a England, Ireland, Wales and Scotland, but him nah beat Michael Andrew Holness, I don’t talk about colour and race, but they started it, so let me finish it.

“Dem sey Seaga born up deh so, but wey fi dem leader come from? Backra master.”