FOUR candidates will be taking on Everald Warmington — the controversial Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) candidate — in the April 4 by-election in South West St Catherine.

Warmington, who had resigned as member of parliament for the St Catherine constituency after confirming that he held dual citizenship, was yesterday nominated to again contest the seat despite calls by the group known as Women in Media for him to be dropped as the JLP’s candidate.

However, despite expecting to start as favourite because of the traditional party support behind him, Warmington will have to fend off a challenge from the popular Betty Ann Blaine of the New Nation Coalition; Christopher Irons of the Marcus Garvey People’s Political Party; Astor G Black of the Jamaica Alliance Movement; and Carlos C Waul, independent. Waul is no stranger to the constituency as he previously served as a People’s National Party councillor for the Church Pen Division.

In the meantime, three of the four JLP candidates nominated in four parish council divisions were returned by acclamation as they had no challengers. They are Keneisha Allen, Spanish Town; Donovan White, Duncans; and Susan Leonie Senior, Norbrook Division. The JLP’s nominee for the Frankfield Division in Clarendon, Clive L Mundle, is being challenged by the National Democratic Movement’s Merlene E Cameron and independent candidate Hewan Michael Holness.

Warmington — who last week earned the ire of the women media workers after telling a television anchor to “go to hell” when he was questioned about his dual citizenship, and an alleged rude comment when later questioned by the station’s news director — was mum yesterday when he was escorted to the nomination centre on South Street by a sea of green-clad JLP supporters. Suggesting that his lips are sealed, the usually vocal Warmington held on to his lip as he made his way to the nomination centre, in the company of Water and Housing Minister Dr Horace Chang, MPs Shahine Robinson and Tarn Peralto and other party officials and supporters.

Some of Warmington’s supporters, while agreeing that he needs to change his behaviour, were firm in their support. “Him could a ‘renk’ ’till him stink, a him get we vote,” said one supporter. “It ago tek a tractor to move him, because him a do him work, though him feisty,” said another.

A female supporter of Astor Black, however, was not afraid to openly voice her disapproval for Warmington’s behaviour. “Warmington pay various school fees for me and him neva get my vote; him too feisty, him no have no manners,” said a woman who declined to give her name.

Independent candidate Waul, meanwhile, told reporters that the PNP made a bad decision not to contest the by-election, adding that he made the decision to run for the seat yesterday morning after considering the numerous calls that he had got from people in the constituency.

“The people want somebody who can represent South West St Catherine in a decent and upright way, and the JLP sent back its present candidate and most of the people don’t want him and we can’t allow the people not to exercise their franchise. We want to send a message to Jamaica and the leaders that you don’t just impose things on us just because of your thinking, because the prime minister in his own admission said he knew all along that Warmington was a dual citizen and let him stay there for so many years,” Waul said.

Blaine, who was the first to hand in nomination papers, immediately won the support of 20-year-old Nicole Clarke, a past student of Glenmuir High, who had planned to contest as an independent but withdrew to support the NNC candidate.

“I am excited about testing the waters and I am ready to work on behalf of the people. I intend to be their next representative in Parliament and am calling on all the people of South West St Catherine and the rest of the parish to campaign for us. This is a campaign to restore the dignity and pride of the people of Jamaica and it is a campaign in support of decency, good manners and ethics,” Blaine told reporters.

Irons, an art teacher at Ascot Comprehensive High School in Portmore, St Catherine, said he hoped to bring hope to the people of South West St Catherine.

Black said if elected he would, among other things, ensure that all the youths in the constituency have access to the Internet. “My chances (of winning) are big just like every Jamaican,” said Black.