Hypocrites!

• Warmington defends Hay-Webster, Walker at CDF meeting

Erica Virtue, Senior Gleaner Writer

CHAIRMAN of the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) Everald Warmington on Tuesday called the People's National Party (PNP) members of the committee "hypocrites" for their treatment of political turncoat Sharon Hay-Webster - the three-term PNP MP - who crossed floors to join the governing party, and Danville Walker, the Jamaica Labour Party's (JLP) candidate for Central Manchester.

Walker, the former director of elections, has been labelled, "Scrappy," while former colleagues of Hay-Webster have shunned her since her deflection to the Government benches.

It was a comment from PNP MP Noel Arscott that set off Warmington, as members approved a record 80 projects, ahead of the Christmas season. Opposition members Colin Fagan and Arscott were egging on Government members, in friendly banter, about their chances in the upcoming general elections.

"How Scrappy a treat you?" Arscott asked Government member J.C. Hutchinson.

"Who is Scrappy?" asked Hutchinson.

"You soon find out," interjected member Andrew Gallimore, as members chattered even as Warmington presented a project from Kingston, East and Port Royal MP, Phillip Paulwell.

It was at this point that Warmington blew them off.

"I am amazed you know, that all of a sudden you guys have a name to call this gentleman. Yet, when he was there working in 1997 and 2002 (as director of elections) you never call him any name. Ah, you hypocrites. You damn hypocrites," Warmington said.

"Poor Sharon," said Gallimore.

Warmington's outburst was triggered by the word "Scrappy", Manchester Central Member of Parliament Peter Bunting's nickname for his rival in the upcoming general election.

Industry and Commerce Minister Dr Christopher Tufton has acknowledged that there were breaches by the Jamaica Customs Department in allowing a select group of individuals and/or organisations to export scrap metals during the period of a ban.

Jamaica Customs Depart-ment is now the subject of a probe by Contractor General Greg Christie.

"All you know what to do is to destroy people's character. Sharon was the closest thing to all a you, and all of a sudden she is the worst thing. You are nothing but a bunch of hypocrites. Cut it out and stop it in this meeting. You soon know what is Scrappy. You have a new candidate 'gainst you, you soon have fire in muss muss tail you tink a cool breeze," Warmington warned.

At Tuesday's meeting, two projects, one each from Opposition Leader Portia Simpson Miller, and former Prime Minister Bruce Golding were reduced by $500,000 each, as they exceeded the $3.5-million ceiling set by the committee for Christmas work projects.

The two projects came in for $4 million.

The committee rejected a project from MP Dr Kenneth Baugh while at least three MPs' signatures were missing from projects appearing in their names.

erica.virtue@gleanerjm.com