Poster destruction and intimidation claims mount as election campaign heats up

By: Admin

Image caption: Member of Parliament for St Thomas Eastern, Dr Michelle Charles of the Jamaica Labour Party, has condemned the destruction of her campaign posters.

Tensions are flaring in several constituencies across Jamaica as members of the two major political parties trade accusations of political sabotage, violence, and destruction of campaign paraphernalia.

The events are raising fresh concerns about the tone and conduct of the general election expected by September.

In St Thomas Eastern, incumbent Member of Parliament for the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), Dr Michelle Charles, on Sunday condemned what she described as the “systematic removal” of her campaign material by People’s National Party (PNP) activists, and a physical attack on a supporter.

“My campaign has been systematically targeted by PNP activists who have destroyed our campaign material. I cannot guarantee the safety of PNP campaign paraphernalia because despite my appeal for restraint, the PNP has been viciously provoking my supporters,” Charles said in a statement, noting that a police report has been filed regarding the alleged beating of a team member.

She also acknowledged a circulating video showing JLP supporters removing PNP material, saying “all lawfully erected paraphernalia and candidate boards must be allowed to contend in the finest traditions of our democratic processes.”

Earlier on Sunday, PNP supporters levelled accusations against JLP supporters about similar activities involving campaign materials from the camp of PNP caretaker and councillor Yvonne Rosemarie Shaw, Charles; opponent.

They pointed to two videos that have surfaced online purporting to show men removing campaign material in Leith Hall and other parts of St. Thomas Eastern. Items belonging to the JLP and Dr Charles were left untouched.

Also, last night, Shaw raised concerns about intimidation after alleging that a group of gunmen descended on Duckenfield as four buses were departing the community for a PNP rally. She did not mention any specific affiliation of the purported gunmen.

“Comrades, we know the names. Those names [have been] given to the police,” Shaw said at the meeting. “Let us turn back gangsterism. Let us turn back cronyism. Let us turn back nepotism.”

Head of the St Thomas police division, Superintendent Michael Campbell, said complaints have been received from "both sides".

The reports out of St Thomas mirror accusations coming from at least two other constituencies, including St Catherine East Central and St Elizabeth North Eastern, where candidates have also raised alarms about the destruction of campaign items and political intimidation.

On Sunday, JLP Member of Parliament for St Catherine East Central, Alando Terrelonge, accused the PNP of engaging in what he called “1970s politics of division, fear, and intimidation.”

“Residents woke up on Friday morning to the horror of old-style politics as PNP gangs vandalised government roads that we repaired in 2022 and their community with PNP slogans and the name of the PNP candidate,” Terrelonge said.

Listing communities allegedly affected - including Southboro, Nelva, Navada, Esperanza, Laurel, Miranda, and Veneto - Terrelonge warned Jamaicans not to “surrender our communities to this kind of politics of desperation.”

“Today it's marking up the streets, next week it's marking up your homes. After that it's telling you what colours you can wear, who you can talk to… This is how freedom gets stripped away,” he said.

Terrelonge is to be challenged by the PNP's Raymond Pryce.

Meanwhile, Zuleika Jess, the PNP’s caretaker for St Elizabeth North Eastern, took to Facebook to hit back at complaints reportedly made by her JLP rival and incumbent MP Delroy Sloley, whom she labelled the “outgoing MP.”

“For weeks we have been suffering at the hands of hoodlums,” Jess said, claiming that her paraphernalia was repeatedly destroyed in Balaclava, Rocky Hill, Burnt Savanna, and Back Street.

“I spoke to the outgoing MP about it… He did nothing,” she added. “Now, the outgoing MP has the audacity to be complaining about his material being removed. What the heller???”

While Jess said she did not know if anything was actually removed from her opponent, she declared: “I cannot say that I will be shedding any tears for their alleged loss.”

The rising temperature in the campaign has triggered caution from the country’s leaders.

On Saturday night, Prime Minister Andrew Holness warned Labourites against destroying opponents’ paraphernalia.

“Posters and flags don’t win an election,” Holness said at a meeting in Santa Cruz St Elizabeth. “Respect the other party’s posters and flags. Leave it alone.”

Last week, the Electoral Commission of Jamaica, in its capacity as political ombudsman, appealed for calm, urging all parties and supporters to refrain from removing or defacing campaign materials.