UNDERCOVER LABOURITE CRAWFORD

Controversial People’s National Party (PNP) member Damion Crawford has once again found himself at the centre of a political squabble with fellow comrade on social media who have accused him of being an “undercover Labourite”.

A campaign for Crawford to “come out of the closet” and pledge his allegiance to the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) has been launched subsequent to a tweet from the former member of Parliament on Tuesday commenting on contradicting media reports that Marcus Mckenzie, son of Local Government Minister Desmond McKenzie, was hired by the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) in a position that had remained vacant for several month.

Before the NSWNA could dismiss the reports as erroneous, thousands of social media users accused the agency of nepotism, with some identifying themselves as NSWMA workers agreeing that it was favouritism as, after several months, the government organisation recanted a memorandum that reflected a hiring freeze.

Crawford, however, surprised social media users when he started posting a series of posts on Twitter opposing the argument for nepotism.

“So are we saying a politician son should not be able to work with government even if he is qualified for the Job? #Rubbish,” Crawford began his series of tweets all accompanied by the hashtag #FreelittleMckenzie.
These series of tweets made many Comrades bitter, which has since caused the young politician to make an address via his official Facebook account. He said he would not be partisan, and believes that it is only fair that Marcus McKenzie be hired for the job if he is suitably qualified.

However, others obviously still upset, threw jabs at Crawford, one woman describing him as disingenuous.

Crawford you are disingenuous. If you want to be a Labourite just go ahead and join them. You cyaa tan pan cow back and cuss cow.

Another commented: Anytime him open his damn mouth the garbage truck have more work to do. He’s a headless chicken running around seeking attention and wah somwhere fi kotch himself, poppy show. A yuh ex party first did a guh chat bout it, mi nah seh ur party ca yuh nuh av nuh party, dem kick yuh out now mi si y. Mi nuh wrong Mr MacKenzie nuh hire him de.

Crawford’s post in full:

“Over the last 48hrs I have observed with concern an effort by some comrades to “manufacture a beef” with me. It seem the new form of attack to those that refuse to participate in political opportunism is to label that individual a labourite. It is my opinion that Desmond Mckenzie’s son should not be disqualified from working at the NSWMA simply because he is the minister’s son. Indeed it is also my opinion that he should not be appointed to a position simply because he is the minister’s son either,” Crawford wrote.

I have no problem with anyone disagreeing with my opinions it is their right to do so but understand that simply because you disagree does not suggest that my opinion would change. If however you have new information deemed by you to be necessary for consideration you may provide that information and I will gladly consider it and if necessary change my mind. However to this point i have no information that nepotism was involved so as far as i am concerned none was. Further i disagree with the position that ethics have anything to do with how something looks that’s optics instead in my opinion ethics only consideration is what is.

I see on a particular in a group titled Jamaicans for Truth some “social media warriors” claiming I should not be doing interviews with Emily Crooks, Cliff hughes nor Abka Fitz Henly as in their opinions these as “labourite journalist” I have and will continue to do interviews with any journalist that ask as long as i feel comfortable that the topic is not outside of my of capacity to comprehend and thus comment. I have no reservation in saying Abka is a friend of mine and a great KC alumnus, nor do I have any reservation in stating that I have had a good relationship with Emily crooks since Taylor Hall when we were both students at the University. I have no intention to malice journalist nor anyone for that matter on the simple basis that that are or are perceived to be JLP leaning. In fact my uncle in whom I am well pleased is a JLP senator and I am definitely not malicing him for his political leaning.

I have always advised political participants not to be a tool to be used by political parties but instead to be a builder that used politics as a tool to build your communities and your country. I pass that advice to the vocal few who seek to bully others who don’t share their opinions from the safety of their keyboards.

In closing for those insistent on labeling me a labourite ask yourself one simple question who is leaking all these things from PNP meetings to the media? It could not be me, because as they have often repeated and in some cases lamented I go to no meetings. Who is it that leaked PNP polls to Daryl Vaz, not me up to todays date I have not seen those polls. Who has engineered a transformation of the PNP into something Micheal Manley would not recognize,not me I have been a constant voice in the wilderness. So maybe just maybe those are the ppl you should be targeting for public ridicule

In response to the post one follower agreeing with Damion’s view on the subject defended the young politician’s right to an opinion.

You know the thing that is ppl problem with Mr Crawford he’s not bias he speak the truth as he see it he won’t be bullied into any cover of any comrades wrong doing and so that is why they say negative things about him