MANCHESTER, Jamaica – Manchester North Western Member of Parliament Mikael Phillips says he will “vigorously” defend his motion to Parliament seeking sanctions against Everald Warmington for his actions in the House of Representatives.

The motion was yesterday read by Phillips, although Opposition MPs insisted that he was one of the MPs who had verbal exchanges with Warmington last Tuesday leading to him referring to Government MP Lisa Hanna as “Jezebel”.

The motion asked that the matter be referred to the House’s Privileges Committee, which is chaired by the Speaker Michael Peart.

Phillips’ motion also seeks a review of Parliamentary guidelines to ensure all members of Parliament exercise the “respect, civility and professional comport” that their constituents expect of them in the House.

Phillips, in a release today, addressed arguments advanced by the Opposition spokesperson for Justice, Delroy Chuck, who contended the motion was “improper”.

“From my vantage point, Mr Chuck seemingly slept while the House discussed the people’s business, but spewed venom-like disagreement  when a simple motion was raised defending the sanctity of Jamaica’s House of Representatives,” Phillips said.

“One wishes that Mr Chuck’s sense of outrage had been similarly ignited when his fellow JLP (Jamaica Labour Party) Parliamentarian of St Catherine South West, Everald Warmington, had brought the House into disrepute with his boorish and gender biased comments.”

Phillips wants Parliamentarians to discuss methods of achieving the highest standard of representation for the people and their business.

The Manchester North Western MP described Chuck’s decision to ignore concerns regarding his colleague Warmington’s “bad behaviour” and scant regard for the people’s issues and perhaps even less regard for Gordon House, as possible poor judgement.

“… [Parliament] is the one official place where Jamaicans, from various socio-economic groups, ought to be sure that their voices will be echoed with respect.

“I cannot claim to have as much Parliamentary experience as Mr Chuck, but the People of North West Manchester know they can expect respect, civility and professional comport when I represent them,” he said.

“All members should hold their constituents in the same regard and many people in my constituency and across the country have raised their concerns that this is not so,” Phillips said.