In the wake of the public apologies of two junior government ministers, for statements made on the political platform, the People's National Party (PNP) is claiming that the true colours of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) are now shining through.

PNP chairman Robert Pickersgill said the statements from state ministers Everald Warmington and Robert Montague have not surprised the Opposition, and that the JLP had only gone through a "political cosmetic change" to appear likeable for the general election campaign.

Mr. Pickersgill was addressing reporters yesterday at a press conference called at PNP headquarters on Old Hope Road in St. Andrew.

Commendable achievement

"What the image consultants for the Jamaica Labour Party and, in particular, those assigned to their leader Bruce Golding, have achieved is commendable," said Mr. Pickersgill.

"However, it seems that the second-tier leadership in his party did not complete the entire political cosmetic changes," he added.

Mr. Warmington, Minister of State for Water and Housing, and Mr. Montague, state minister with responsibility for local government, have yielded to public pressure and apologised for disturbing statements made while on the campaign trail in the run-up to the December 5 local government election.

Vote or else

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

For his part, Mr. Montague told residents of Portland that their roads would not be repaired if they did not vote for a JLP councillor.

Mr. Pickersgill said the threats by the government ministers appear to be aiding and abetting a criminal offence under the Corruption Prevention Act.

The Opposition has also stated that the junior ministers should have been asked to apologise prior to the staging of the local government election, and not a week after the local polls.

"Indeed, he has already achieved his intent, which was to intimidate and threaten victimisation of voters who did not support his party. He has already committed the crime," said Mr. Pickersgill.