Dear Editor,

I write today in response to the recent wave of criticism directed at Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Member of Parliament (MP) Everald Warmington, following what many have labelled an “inappropriate” remark made during a meeting in Westmoreland Central.

First, let us be clear: While the phrase used may have seemed unprofessional to some, we must remember that politics is not a Sunday school class. It is often a high-pressure arena where words fly in the heat of the moment. This is not the first time a Jamaican politician has spoken off the cuff, and it certainly won’t be the last.

Meanwhile, members of the “radical left” have made a habit of sanctimoniously calling for charges whenever it suits their narrative, as if they alone hold the moral high ground. Yet these same voices have a long track record of abrasive and divisive rhetoric. Just last year, “left side” information spokespersons accused the Government of being “autocratic” and spreading “misleading narratives” about press freedom — language that drew condemnation from media observers. As the Jamaican proverb wisely says, “Tek di beam outta yuh own eye before yuh try tek it outta smaddy else own.” The left side would do well to remember that.

At the end of the day, Warmington is not perfect. None of us are. But he remains a dedicated servant to his community and a stalwart for the JLP. To drag an elder statesman through the mud over a single remark — for which he has apologised — is petty politicking at best.

Let us judge our leaders by the totality of their service and their willingness to own their mistakes — not by isolated moments of human imperfection.

I stand with Everald Warmington and encourage all right-thinking Jamaicans to remember that real politics is not sanitised, it is robust, passionate, and sometimes messy.

In the heat of the moment, words may sting, but the actions that follow show a man’s character. Warmington has shown his. It’s time to move forward and focus on real issues, not petty distractions drummed up by the radical left for a headline.

J Gregy

jakeygregy@gmail.com