KINGSTON, Jamaica— Member of Parliament (MP) for St Catherine South West Everald Warmington has apologised for recent comments he made asserting that he would limit funds and resources to the People’s National Party’s councillor-elect in the Old Harbour South Division, Dr Kurt Waul.

READ: Warmington promises to limit funds to PNP councillor elect, Opposition calls for his removal from cabinet

The MP said in a release on Wednesday that his comments were said in the heat of the moment and were misunderstood in the public discourse.

“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 a duly elected Councillor 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 channels,” he said.

He also sought to clarify that his use of the term “my money” during his speech to party supporters, does not signify that he considers state allocated funds as his own.

“These funds, allocated by the Central Government and directed in part by MPs, belong to the Jamaican taxpayers. My reference to ‘my money’ was intended to describe these allocations that I, in my role as MP, help oversee. It should also be noted that as MP I do spend my personal resources on constituency matters,” the release said.

Warmington also rejected assertions that his comments endorsed victimisation.

The Opposition PNP had earlier called for Warmington, who is the minister with responsibility for works, to be removed from the Cabinet.