Warmington rejects renaming monuments in honour of politicians

This time the straight talking St Catherine South West Member of Parliament made it clear to his parliamentary colleagues that he was against idea of naming state infrastructures in honour of politicians.

The veteran Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) MP gave his opinion after St James Central Member of Parliament Heroy Clarke moved a motion from the government bench that the Ferris Cross to Mackfield main road in Westmoreland be named in honour of the late Sir Clifford Campbell, the first governor general of independent Jamaica.

The motion which got support from both sides of the political aisle was passed after much debate. But it was Warmington’s comments that drew the attention of many in the lower house and viewers watching online.

“I don’t support any infrastructure in this country being named after some politician who served here or there. We were not elected to come here to be honoured in that sense,” said the 68-year-old veteran lawmaker.

“We have the privilege to represent the people of Jamaica, so they owe us nothing to name anything after us. And I don’t believe that the infrastructure of this country should be named after any politician or past politicians.”

During the debate some members argued strongly that consideration should be given to renaming the same roadway in memory of late People’s National Party MP Roger Clarke. Prior to his death in 2014 Clarke led the charge for the thoroughfare to be rehabilitated, which was eventually realized to the tune of roughly US$25 million.

There has been one primary school that was renamed in honour of Sir Clifford who was born in Petersfield, Westmoreland, while the Balaclava High School was also rebranded Roger Clarke High.

Despite Clarke and the late governor general making worthwhile contributions to the country and constituency during their time, Warmington remained resolute in his opinion, contending that infrastructures should be named after their communities or geographic location.

“The greatest honour for me is for the people of south west St Catherine to have elected me six times to represent them. I don’t need no monument to be named after me,” he added in response to a jibe from the opposition bench. “But some of you so self-centered and taken up, you want anything named after you.

“The greatest honour is being elected by the people to represent them and that should be enough.”