Call for restraint in Jamaica

KINGSTON, Jamaica – The Election Centre is warning that it will implement a ban on political marches, motorcades and meetings in some constituencies following reports of campaign ahead of the December 29 general election.
In a statement late last night, the Election Centre, chaired jointly by Political Ombudsman Bishop Herro Blair and Director of Elections, Orrette Fisher, urged all political parties and candidates to make every effort to reduce tension as well as call on their supporters to exercise restraint.
The political parties, including the ruling Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) and the main opposition People’s National party (PNP) are scheduled to wrap up active campaigning by Friday, but the Election Centre warned that if acts of violence persist, it may be forced to recommend that political marches, motorcades and meetings be banned in the affected constituencies.
The Election Centre which also includes senior officials of the JLP and the PNP, the Citizens Action for Free and Fair Elections (CAFFE), the Broadcasting Commission, the Jamaica Umbrella Group of Churches and the security forces, met yesterady to discuss the latest round of violence in which a supporter of the JLP was stabbed to death.
Last week, a bus transporting JLP supporters from a gospel concert was shot at and several people injured and the Ombudsman is also investigating more than 30 complaints of political violence and intimidation. (CMC)