CHARLES

A war of words has developed between Pearnel Charles, the Opposition Member of Parliament for Clarendon North Central, and Jamaica Forward, a diaspora group based in the United States.

The group has taken issue with comments made by Mr. Charles on the campaign trail, about People's National Party (PNP) candidate, Ralph Thomas, who is contesting the seat in the upcoming general election.

The group has alleged that Mr. Charles had advised Mr. Thomas to 'go back to America'.

"All politics are local, but words spoken on the campaign trail in rural Jamaica can have global impact. Thus, Mr. Charles' advice to Mr. Thomas to 'go back to America' must be seen as more than partisan political rivalry," said the group in a release.

"Those cruel words spoken by a senior statesman in North Central Clarendon effectively signal to absent and returned Jamaicans that we do not have a right to participate freely in national processes," the release added.

When contacted, Mr. Charles denied making the comments about Mr. Thomas.

"Rubbish!" he said. "Mr. Thomas indicted the whole constituency (stating) that we are amassing guns and I said: 'Mr. Thomas knows nothing about the local political situation in North Central Clarendon'. I made the point that I have been on ground for 41 years in Jamaica and he has been on the ground in America for 35 years, he knows about America and not Jamaica!"

Mr. Charles was also critical of the diaspora group.