Everald Warmington resigns from Cabinet

 

Everard Warmington, Member of Parliament for St. Catherine South Western and Minister with responsibility for Works, has resigned from the Cabinet. 

 

In a statement, Prime Minister Andrew Holness said he met with Mr. Warmington, and at the end of the meeting, he received his resignation. 

 

The news comes after controversial comments made by the Minister without portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation. 

 

Mr. Warmington, addressing supporters in his constituency after it became clear that his candidate from the Jamaica Labour Party had lost the local government election for a seat in the St. Catherine Municipal Corporation, expressed disappointment with the results and then declared: "I'm the Minister of Works and the Member of Parliament. No PNP councillor is going to spend my money."

 

He eventually apologised for the statement on Wednesday evening, but commentators and civil society groups continued to express outrage, adding that an apology was not enough. 

 

The Prime Minister, in his statement, said he thanked Mr. Warmington for his service as minister, while the MP "expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to serve".