MONTEGO BAY, St James — Member of Parliament (MP) for St James West Central Marlene Malahoo Forte has slammed what she described as vulgar behaviour on political platforms.

“You don’t come on a stage and you talk about activities that amount to incest,” she said last Friday.

Malahoo Forte, who is a member of the governing Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) and minister of legal and constitutional affairs, was speaking at an event in her constituency where scholarships were being presented to students. The bursaries for students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) programmes at Herbert Morrison Technical High School in Montego Bay were made possible by philanthropist Derrick Sudeall.

While Malahoo Forte did not state explicitly who she was rapping for vulgarity, her comments came on the heels of a recent faux pas at a January 19 People’s National Party (PNP) caretaker candidate presentation. Entertainer Chronic Law used a well-known phrase that describes a sexual act between a mother and child. PNP President Mark Golding and other members of the party’s leadership were at the event. The caretaker candidate for St Ann South Western Danishka Williams immediately made it clear that language was unacceptable and popular entertainer Popcaan also quickly apologised.

Last Friday, Malahoo Forte expressed her disdain.

“That breaks respectful boundary between a mother and her child, and tells them to do things to your mother. That has no place with people who are seeking to hold the highest office that comes after being elected,” she said.

“There must be no place for vulgarity in our politics going forward because our governance rests on the foundation of our politics. I want all Jamaicans to understand that we can’t behave in the most criminal way on the campaign trail, we can’t expose violence and crudity and profanity and think that when we get elected we can govern cleanly,” the minister declared.

Her comments come at a time when both major political parties are in campaign mode ahead of a general election which is constitutionally due by this September.

Malahoo Forte insisted that those seeking to lead must act responsibly.

“When it matters and where it matters, we must demonstrate that we have what it takes to exercise leadership in a nation with such great potential but which has been bedevilled by one problem after the next,” she said.

She used the scholarship presentation to tell students the importance of recognising what is acceptable behaviour and what is not.

“It’s important for you to know what you want to do and it is equally important to know what you don’t want to do,” Malahoo Forte stressed.

“Not only must you identify the steps that you should take to achieve your goals, but you must also recognise the steps you are to avoid. In a country where crime and violence and profanity and vulgarity have become the norm, we need leaders who will stand up and say, ‘wrong is wrong,’ “ added Malahoo Forte.

She also labelled as vulgar politicians who make donations and then tell everyone what they have done in a bid to boost their popularity.

“They have grown used to a level of vulgarity in giving and everything that is given is to be spoken about. Many expect that when you are in the role of a politician, you must vulgarly, throw everything in people’s faces. That’s not how I do it at all. I believe there is still a place for dignity in service,” she said.

Malahoo Forte then went on to highlight work she has done without fanfare.

She mentioned the 3D printer she contributed to the school’s STEM programme.

“Teacher, you thought I had forgotten the contribution I made to the school’s programme. Quite the contrary, it’s just that the way I have been brought up I am not in the habit of taking the fame and glory. I make my contribution in a meaningful way,” she said.

The MP also pointed to how she has contributed to the educational development of students in her constituency.

“Many of you don’t know that since I have been elected Member of Parliament, I have spent many millions of dollars supporting students, providing scholarships. I do so without fanfare, counter-intuitively to what is expected of politicians,” she disclosed.

“Not only that, I have had to intervene on many occasions for students who are either on the brink of either expulsion or de-registration or who fell into situations where they needed an advocate,” said Malahoo Forte.