Warmington walks back on political retirement

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The St Catherine South Western Member of Parliament had previously announced that he will not be seeking re-election at the next national polls, constitutionally due in 2025.

At a Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) meeting Sunday in Portmore, the 72-year-old outspoken politician revealed he has had second thoughts.

What has seemingly prompted a rethink in the mind of the veteran politician is what he perceives to be a media attack on the ruling JLP and particularly Prime Minister Andrew Holness, its party leader.

“I had said it was my intention to step down after 25 years as Member of Parliament and 56 years as part of the team of southwest St Catherine, but I take it back because Andrew Holness must get the third term. Therefore, I have to be a part of the team that gives him his third term,” Warmington said to a raucous crowd of JLP supporters inside the Portmore Heart Academy.

It is not the first time Bartons-born politician has expressed a desire to retire from representational politics before walking back on his words. But at his age this is likely to be his last hurrah irrespective of the outcome next year.

He had made the St Catherine South West a safe seat for the JLP over the last two decades, serving as the peoples elected representative for 22 straight years since 2002.

Almost exactly a year ago Warmington wrote to the JLP executive indicating his intent to make way for a younger and more vibrant candidate to take his seat.

General Secretary of the party Dr Horace Chang would later disclosed that a suitable candidate has been identified to replace the firebrand MP but refuse to divulge the name of the individual until the time was right to do so.

It is unclear if Warmington, a former state minister in charge of works, has formally written to the party regarding his about turn even though that is expected to be a formality given his highly influential stature within the party’s ranks.