CLARKS TOWN, Trelawny — Controversial parliamentarian Everald Warmington was at it again as he launched a blistering attack against sections of the media during a Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) conference on Sunday night.

Speaking at the JLP Sherwood Content Divisional Conference at Cedric Titus Comprehensive High School, Warmington accused the media and the Opposition People’s National Party (PNP) of attempting to destroy Prime Minister Andrew Holness as they did to two former JLP heads of Government

“The media and the PNP destroyed Edward Seaga [PM 1980-1989]; the media and the PNP destroyed Bruce Golding [PM 2007-2010]; the media and the PNP set themselves [now] to destroy the greatest leader of the Jamaica Labour Party Andrew Holness. As I said before and said years ago, and was chastised by some of them, the Gleaner Company and RJR is seeking to destroy Andrew Holness and the Jamaica Labour Party,” Warmington charged as he went on the offensive.

He charged that the media, in particular The Gleaner and RJR never publish anything good about the JLP.

But Warmington declared that any effort to stifle the JLP’s bid for a third consecutive term in office will prove futile.

“We just never do anything to suit them and satisfy them, but you can tell them, whether they like it, yes or no, Andrew Holness will do the third term,” said Warmington.

“Where the PNP is concerned, they are their own enemies but the media is wolf in sheep clothing. I want to tell them that they won’t succeed,” Warmington added.

He also weighed in on the Integrity Commission (IC) probe into the prime minister’s statutory declarations for the years 2021 and 2022, along with the ruling of the IC’s director of corruption prosecution, which were recently tabled in the House.

The director of corruption prosecution concluded that there was not enough evidence that Holness deliberately sought to mislead the IC when he failed to declare four bank accounts with a combined balance of just under $446,000 and ruled that he should not be charged.

But the commission raised several questions about transactions involving companies linked to the prime minister and recommended further investigation by State agencies, including the Financial Investigations Division.

Lawyers representing Holness have since gone to court to seek judicial review of the commission’s report with the aim of declaring them null and void.

“Show one section that say there was illicit wealth,” Warmington said in defence of Holness, who has served as Member of Parliament for St Andrew West Central since 1997.

Warmington, who has been the parliamentary representative for St Catherine South Western since 2002, told the conference that he’d had no intention to contest the next general election; he has, however, now changed his mind to ensure that Holness secures a third term as prime minister.

“I want to tell them, if you want to get Andrew Holness you have to go through me,” declared Warmington.

“I have to stay to make sure that Andrew Holness returns to Government. I have won seven elections in that constituency and I am going back to win eight. And Tova [Hamilton], I will teach you how to move from one to seven. I will help her. In our fight and in my fight I take no enemies. I take no enemies in my war,” he added.

Hamilton has been the MP for Trelawny Northern since 2020.

On Sunday night Warmington commenced his broadside after accidentally knocking a
Television Jamaica microphone off the podium during the initial stage of his delivery.

“It is for a reason, you know. I didn’t do it wishfully but sometimes… destiny… and things happen; you never ask for it but it shows up itself,” he said while someone was in the process of fixing the microphone.

Warmington’s latest attack on the media follows similar comments from representatives of the PNP in recent weeks.

They have charged that some media, mainly Nationwide News Network and the Jamaica Observer are aligned to the JLP.