Controversial Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) parliamentarian Everald Warmington on Monday apologised for his use of profanity on a political stage in a seeming attempt to temper criticisms he has faced since Sunday when he made his comments.

“I recognise that my comments on the platform yesterday (Sunday) were inappropriate and I regret offending anyone with the comments I made. So I do withdraw the comments and apologise,” Warmington, the Member of Parliament (MP) for St Catherine South Western, said in a terse statement.

Warmington, who has developed a reputation for making outrageous statements, ate crow after People’s National Party (PNP) General Secretary Dr Dayton Campbell called on the police to charge him for his public use of profane and indecent language.

In an address to a JLP workers’ appreciation and awards function in Westmoreland Central on Sunday, Warmington used the f… word liberally as he urged Labourites to vote for the sitting MP George Wright.

Under the Towns and Communities Act, the public use of profane, indecent, or obscene language is punishable by law, attracting a fine of up to $1,500, and Campbell was adamant that Warmintgon should be charged.

“This evening, elsewhere within this constituency, the other side was having a meeting. I have been listening to the prime minister [Dr Andrew Holness]… and he continues to go on the platform and say he is asking for decency, and his party is campaigning on decency.

“This evening, right here in Central Westmoreland, the MP from South West St Catherine Everald Warmington went onto the platform and a cuss bad word in front of the media and everybody, and I want to know what form of disciplinary action will the prime minister of Jamaica — who said he is asking for decency — what disciplinary action will he take against Everald Warmington,” said Campbell as he addressed the PNP’s Frome Divisional Conference on Sunday.

Campbell pointed out that several times in the past the police have arrested and charged dancehall artistes for their use of profanity onstage and questioned why Warmington should be treated any differently.

“I am calling on the JCF (Jamaica Constabulary Force) to charge Everald Warmington for his behaviour on the platform,” declared Campbell.

He argued that JLP representatives have been acting as if Jamaica belongs to them and they can do whatever they want to do.

“This country does not belong to the Labourites; this is our country, all of us together, and we don’t want that sort of behaviour from leaders in the country. Leaders must set example,” he said.

“But this behaviour is coming about because the head of the stream is dirty,” alleged Campbell.

According to Campbell, the JLP is campaigning on issues that do not impact the lives of Jamaicans, while the PNP is outlining its plans to make Jamaica better.

“They are trying to spread this argument that the only thing we are campaigning on is corruption; that is not true. It is true that… we a bun a fire on corruption, that is true, but it is not the only thing we are campaigning on,” said Campbell as he outlined the harmful impact of corruption on the development of Jamaica.