KINGSTON, Jamaica — A report by Nationwide News has revealed the contents of a WhatsApp exchange involving Government backbencher Everald Warmington and members of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) parliamentary group, in which the veteran MP questioned Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness’ handling of a reported dispute within the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport.
The disclosure has drawn comparisons with the recent controversy surrounding a leaked WhatsApp conversation involving members of the opposition People’s National Party (PNP), where private political discussions became public and triggered debate about internal party conduct, trust and leadership.
In the JLP matter, Warmington’s comments reportedly followed the Government’s decision to send State Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister, Senator Abka Fitz-Henley, to represent Jamaica at the state funeral for West Indies cricket legend Sir Garfield Sobers in Barbados.
Sport falls under the portfolio of Minister Olivia “Babsy” Grange.
Warmington said he had no objection to Fitz-Henley attending the funeral. His concern, according to the report, was that a junior member of another ministry was representing a portfolio that already has an appointed minister and minister of state.
In the WhatsApp discussion among JLP MPs, Warmington raised concerns about what he described as tension between Minister Grange and her Minister of State, Kerensia Morrison. He questioned why Prime Minister Holness had not intervened to resolve the matter.
Warmington argued that a Prime Minister has a responsibility to address disagreements within a minister’s team before they escalate and affect the wider administration.
The veteran parliamentarian also invoked the history of the JLP, referencing former Prime Minister Edward Seaga and the internal challenges that affected the party during his leadership. Warmington warned against allowing unresolved divisions to weaken the organisation.
He questioned whether the party was heading toward a similar situation, asking, “Are we heading back there?” and warning that “the arrogance will not allow us to get another term.”
The release of the private WhatsApp exchange has placed renewed focus on the vulnerability of political organisations in the digital era, where internal conversations among elected representatives can quickly become matters of public debate.
Like the PNP WhatsApp controversy, the JLP disclosure raises questions about confidentiality, political communication and whether private discussions among party members can remain separate from public perceptions of leadership and unity.
Minister Grange has held responsibility for the Culture portfolio since 2016, while Morrison was appointed Minister of State in September 2025.
There have been public rumours about the relationship between the two ministers, but neither has confirmed any dispute.
Nationwide News reported that it contacted both ministers for comment. Morrison indicated she would return the call, but no response had been received by the time of reporting. Attempts to reach Minister Grange were unsuccessful.
The disclosure now places attention on how Prime Minister Holness manages internal concerns within his parliamentary team and whether the matter remains an isolated disagreement or develops into a wider discussion about governance and party cohesion.
