Minister of State for Housing and Water, Everard Warmington (right) is animated as he chats with his colleague, Robert Montague, the Minister of State with responsibility for Local Government, inside Gordon House, yesterday. Both men have been widely criticised for comments they made during the campaign for the December 5 local government election and have since issued apologies. - Rudolph Brown/Chief Photographer

Everald Warmington, Minister of State for Housing and Water, has yielded to public pressure and apologised for disturbing statements he made while on the campaign trail in the run-up to the December 5 local government election.

In a release late yesterday, Mr. Warmington said his remarks at a public rally were improper and contrary to "the principles and policies of the party and government of which I am a member".

No signature

The release containing Mr. Warmington's apology did not have his signature.

His colleague, Robert Montague, who had earlier submitted an apology for statements he made at a political rally, placed his signature on his apology.

Late yesterday, Prime Minister Bruce Golding told reporters that he had been informed that a letter from Mr. Warmington was on his desk at Jamaica House.

However, The Gleaner was informed that the letter submitted to Mr. Golding was a "private matter" between Mr. Warmington and the Prime Minister.

Journalists tried to get a comment from Mr. Warmington at Gordon House yesterday, but he insisted that he does not "talk to the press".

In his apology, Mr. Warmington said the remarks he made were "contrary to how I have conducted myself in representing my constituents as Member of Parliament".

"After discussions with the Prime Minister, I accept without reservation that my utterances were wrong and undermine the confidence placed in me by the Prime Minister," he added.

According to Warmington: "I completely withdraw the offensive statements which I made and tender my unreserved apologies to the Prime Minister, my constituents and the people of Jamaica."

No relief

Mr. Warmington had told Old Harbour residents that if they did not vote for the JLP, they would not receive hurricane-relief cheques.

Member of Parliament for South Central St. Catherine, Sharon Hay Webster, wants the House of Representatives to establish an ethics committee to consider "appropriate action" against the two state ministers who made the alarming comments recently.

Mrs. Hay Webster, in a motion to the House yesterday, urged her colleagues to sanction both Montague and Warmington for their "reprehensible" utterances.

She said their statements indicate an intention to misuse public funds to induce electors, which constituted a breach of the laws of Jamaica.

Mr. Montague expressed regret for remarks he made on December 2, when he told residents of Portland that their roads would not be repaired if they did not vote for a JLP councillor.