- Junior DowieThe signed agreement and declaration on pollitical conduct.
The following is the joint agreement and declaration on political conduct signed by Prime Minister P. J. Patterson and Opposition Leader Edward Seaga Gordon House on Tuesday June 11.
THE People's National Party (PNP) and the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP):
1. Affirm their belief in the sanctity of human life and abhor taking human life or the violation of the person of anyone because of their political allegiance;
2. Declare their opposition to and rejection of the use of violence or intimidation by any of their members or supporters as a means of expressing political support or furthering political objectives;
3. Denounce the procurement, possession or distribution of weapons or ammunition of any sort by their members or supporters for use in political activity;
4. Affirm their commitment to non-violent relations between the members and supporters of both political parties;
5. Repudiate any action by their members or supporters calculated to provoke; threaten or intimidate the members or supporters of the other party.
6. Recognise and respect the right of each party, its members and supporters to express and demonstrate their political views and to conduct lawful, non-violent activities in support of their objectives.
7. Both parties agree that they will not offer or support as candidate anyone pronounced by a judicial body to be guilty of criminal conduct involving violence, or any person who has been adjudged by a judicial or quasi judicial body, established pursuant to Law, of conduct of moral turpitude, provided that such a person appeared or was summoned to appear as a result of specific allegations charged.
In furtherance of the foregoing, the PNP and the JLP hereby agree that:
1. A code of political conduct as set out in Appendix 1 of this agreement will be established and will come into effect immediately upon the signing of this agreement by the leaders, chairmen and general secretaries of both parties.
2. A senior ombudsman with responsibility for investigating breaches of the code of conduct will be appointed.
3. In carrying out his investigative and deliberate functions, the Ombudsman may be assisted by a tribunal which includes bi-partisan representation; the composition and functions of which will be set out under separate cover.
4. The officers, executives and constituency representatives of both parties will use their authority and will make every possible effort to ensure restraint on the part of their members and supporters, to encourage respect for each other's rights and freedoms to effect compliance with the provisions of the code of political conduct and to support the principles of this agreement.
5. Both political parties undertake appropriate action on any recommendation made by the bi-partisan tribunal.
6. Every candidate, along with an influential member of the community, who is part of the party organisation, will sign the accord and will be (mutatis mutandis) subject to the same sanctions as if he or she were the candidate.
In addition to and without prejudice to the foregoing, both the PNP and the JLP will continue to work together and agree to additional measures (including the vexed question of distribution of scarce benefits) which may be taken to reinforce this agreement, to improve relations between the members and supporters of both parties, to eliminate politically motivated violence and to encourage peaceful political co-existence, political campaigns and elections.
Appendix 1
1. Non-violence and non-intimidation
a) No person should engage in, adopt or otherwise encourage any form of violence or intimidation in their political activities.
b) There should be no procurement or distribution of weapons or ammunition of any sort for use in political activities.
c) No threats of violence or intimidation whatsoever, whether expressed or implied, should be made against anyone or any group of persons because of their political affiliation.
d) No person should be forced, against their will, to declare their political affiliation or to acknowledge any affiliation whatsoever.
e) Every individual should be free to go about his or her lawful business without restriction, harassment or intimidation and should actively discourage the erecting of roadblocks in this regard.
f) Candidates or others acting on behalf of candidates must not use funds derived from any source, public or private, to improperly influence electoral choices.
2. Safety of private and public property
No damage should wilfully be done to any property, whether private or public, in the course of , or, as a result of any political event or activity.
3. Avoidance of confrontation
a) Nothing should be done or encouraged which, it can be reasonably expected, will lead to volatile confrontation between opposing political factions.
b) Every effort must be made to avoid any act which is likely to be provocative or which will increase tensions between opposing political factions.
4. Public utterances
Party officials (including platform speakers) should not make statements which -
a) are inflammatory or likely to incite others to confrontation or violence
b) constitute slander or libel;
c) are malicious in reference to opposing candidates, their family and party officials.
5. Freedom of access
a) Nothing should be done to unlawfully prevent or restrict anyone from canvassing or campaigning in any place.
b) Nothing should be done to unlawfully restrict or jeopardise the movement along any public road, of anyone or any group of persons engaged in legitimate political activity.
6. Avoidance of defacing of buildings or installations
a) There should be no defacing of any structure, roadway or installation (whether privately or publicly owned) for the purpose of displaying any political message or slogan except in such manner as is permitted by law.
b) No action in relation to the distribution of any pamphlet, handbill, poster ar any similar material shall be takenin such manner as would constitute a breach of the ant-litter act.
7. Code of ethics
In case of a breach or suspected breach, the two parties agree that each side will, firstly, consult with the other and, if necessary, invoke the intervention of the tribunal before recourse of any other forum.
Nothing in the above should be deemed to mean that either side or any individual has relinquished ultimate recourse.
