PNP candidate for East Portland Damion Crawford has come in for scathing criticism for comments he made about his JLP challenger, Ann Marie Vaz.

Many have deemed the statements to be sexist and classist.

The comments were made by Crawford last evening (Mar 3) at a PNP mass rally in the Port Antonio Square, where he was officially presented as the party’s candidate for the upcoming by election.

The statements reportedly relate to Mrs. Vaz qualifications, marriage, social status, gender, and ethnicity.

Social media users have chastised Crawford for his statements.

In his defense, Crawford in a social media post, pointed to the seemingly hypocritical stance taken by some JLP supporters who did not take note of demeaning comments allegedly made about him.

Meantime, the young professional affiliate of the Jamaica Labour Party Generation 2,000 said in a release today that it is disappointed at what it describes as the sexist and prejudiced comments uttered by Crawford in reference to Mrs. Vaz.

G2K Vice President Daniella Allen noted that Crawford’s comments were disrespectful, chauvinistic.

Noting that women have struggled for centuries, to achieve gender equality and equity and continue to work hard to break through glass ceilings.

The organization further states that Crawford’s insensitive comment comes just days before  international women’s day  and shows his contempt for the strong women of Jamaica who are stepping boldly into positions of leadership and doing so in a steely yet graceful manner.