KINGSTON, Jamaica – A member of the Cabinet led by Prime Minister Andrew Holness, resigned on Thursday in the aftermath of Monday’s Local Government election.
Everald WarmingtonIn a statement, Holness said he received the resignation from embattled legislator Everald Warmington, the minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation.
The news comes after controversial comments made by the Warmington, as he addressed supporters in his constituency after it became clear that his candidate from the ruling Jamaica Labour Party had lost a seat in the election.
In expressing disappointment with the results, Warmington declared: “I’m the Minister of Works and the Member of Parliament. No (opposition) PNP (People’s National Party) councillor is going to spend my money.”
On Wednesday he apologised for the statement but commentators continued to express outrage, adding that an apology was not enough.
Meanwhile – the Electoral Office of Jamaica (EOJ) says it is close to completing the final count of ballots for the Local Government Election.
On Thursday, the EOJ said counting has been completed for 218 of the 228 electoral divisions.
The final results have been issued in nine parishes – St. Thomas, Portland, St. Mary, St. Ann, Trelawny, Hanover, St. Elizabeth, Manchester, and Clarendon.
The EOJ says the final count of ballots will be completed late Thursday and once completed the municipal corporations will be informed so new candidates can be sworn in next week.
