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JLP distances itself from 'Jezebel' statement
published: Friday | April 27, 2007
SAMUDA
The Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) is distancing itself from the controversial 'Jezebel' statement by Joan Gordon-Webley, the party's parliamentary candidate for South East St. Andrew.
It was reported this week that Mrs. Gordon-Webley had characterised Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller as "a Jezebel" while making a presentation at a JLP meeting in Trelawny on Tuesday night.
The remark drew instant public condemnation and a quick apology to the Prime Minister from Karl Samuda, general secretary of the JLP.
No direct assault
While saying he had not yet discussed the matter with the candidate, Mr. Samuda asserted that the party did not intend to "engage in any direct assault on any opponent's personality".
The party, he said, was "trying desperately to avoid any sort of criticism of a person on a personal basis".
Mr. Samuda spoke to The Gleaner at Gordon House yesterday after the adjournment of the parliamentary sitting during which Opposition Leader Bruce Golding made his contribution to the Budget Debate. Immediately after the members rose, the JLP general secretary engaged the Prime Minister in a lengthy discussion. The discussion was partly about the controversial statement, he said.
"If we are going to lead by example then we can't indulge in these sort of old-fashioned assaults on each other while youngsters are there sitting, hoping to gain from us through the experience and wisdom which we should be imparting to them," he said.
Accordingly, Mr. Samuda added, he intended to speak with Mrs. Gordon-Webley about the issue.
However, Mrs. Gordon-Webley said yesterday that she would not apologise for the comments made about the Prime Minister.
The People's National Party (PNP) Women's Movement meanwhile has demanded that she apologise.
Mrs. Gordon-Webley said yesterday there was no reason for an apology as she was quoting the Bible when she made the statement. - I would love her to tell me where I can find such a quote. IDIOT!
Cheap attack
Jennifer Edwards, president of the PNP Women's Movement, said the statement by Mrs. Gordon Webley was a cheap and personal attack on the Prime Minister.
While he said he was not sure the political code of conduct had been broken by the Gordon-Webley statement, Mr. Samuda insisted the party intended to conduct itself in a manner contrary to the spirit of the controversial comment. "You cannot speak about the restoration of moral values and standards and then descend into the sort of cass-cass we have grown accustomed to over the year," he concluded
published: Friday | April 27, 2007
SAMUDA
The Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) is distancing itself from the controversial 'Jezebel' statement by Joan Gordon-Webley, the party's parliamentary candidate for South East St. Andrew.
It was reported this week that Mrs. Gordon-Webley had characterised Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller as "a Jezebel" while making a presentation at a JLP meeting in Trelawny on Tuesday night.
The remark drew instant public condemnation and a quick apology to the Prime Minister from Karl Samuda, general secretary of the JLP.
No direct assault
While saying he had not yet discussed the matter with the candidate, Mr. Samuda asserted that the party did not intend to "engage in any direct assault on any opponent's personality".
The party, he said, was "trying desperately to avoid any sort of criticism of a person on a personal basis".
Mr. Samuda spoke to The Gleaner at Gordon House yesterday after the adjournment of the parliamentary sitting during which Opposition Leader Bruce Golding made his contribution to the Budget Debate. Immediately after the members rose, the JLP general secretary engaged the Prime Minister in a lengthy discussion. The discussion was partly about the controversial statement, he said.
"If we are going to lead by example then we can't indulge in these sort of old-fashioned assaults on each other while youngsters are there sitting, hoping to gain from us through the experience and wisdom which we should be imparting to them," he said.
Accordingly, Mr. Samuda added, he intended to speak with Mrs. Gordon-Webley about the issue.
However, Mrs. Gordon-Webley said yesterday that she would not apologise for the comments made about the Prime Minister.
The People's National Party (PNP) Women's Movement meanwhile has demanded that she apologise.
Mrs. Gordon-Webley said yesterday there was no reason for an apology as she was quoting the Bible when she made the statement. - I would love her to tell me where I can find such a quote. IDIOT!
Cheap attack
Jennifer Edwards, president of the PNP Women's Movement, said the statement by Mrs. Gordon Webley was a cheap and personal attack on the Prime Minister.
While he said he was not sure the political code of conduct had been broken by the Gordon-Webley statement, Mr. Samuda insisted the party intended to conduct itself in a manner contrary to the spirit of the controversial comment. "You cannot speak about the restoration of moral values and standards and then descend into the sort of cass-cass we have grown accustomed to over the year," he concluded
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