KINGSTON, Jamaica— Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) spokesperson Venesha Phillips has poured cold water on an apology made by People’s National Party (PNP) councillor Mario Mitchell, in regards to distasteful posts on his social media platform X recently.

“Mario Mitchell’s apology is not even worth the paper it’s written on, to be honest. Both Councillor Mitchell and the PNP clearly believe that Jamaicans are idiots,” said Phillips,who is a former PNP councillor, in a statement on Tuesday.

The JLP’s criticism follows Mitchell’s explanation that the vulgar posts, directed particularly towards women, were made by a member of his communications team, who he says, has since been suspended.

READ: PNP councillor blames team member for vulgar social media posts

But critics, including members of the JLP, are rejecting that explanation, describing it as ‘deflection rather than responsibility’.

“Councillor Mitchell’s refusal to fess up and to just denounce this kind of reprehensible behaviour tells you everything,” said Phillips, pointing to what she described as a pattern of declining standards within the PNP.

She further condemned the silence of key PNP figures in the aftermath of the incident.

“The silence of the leader of the Opposition, the general secretary, and worse, the PNP Women’s Movement as this very vile comment was directed towards the women and mothers of Jamaica, tells you everything about the standard and the approach of the PNP,” said Phillips.