By Angelo Laurence, Freelance WriterTHE JLP says it is to ask Police Commissioner Francis Forbes why the Reneto Adams-led Crime Management Unit on Wednesday night searched the home of Norman Horne, its candidate for Manchester Central in the upcoming general election.
Derrick Smith, the JLP spokesman for national security, said that an explanation "on the nature and origin of the so-called 'intelligence'" was warranted, as a clear reason had not been offered by the police for the search.
"It is baffling that Senior Superintendent Adams told Mr. Horne that he did not know that it was his home that his team was searching, although Mr. Horne's name was written on the warrant," Mr. Smith said.
He said the JLP needed assurance that "this does not signal the start of a harassment campaign of its candidates in the lead-up to the general election".
Mr. Horne cried foul after his home in the plush Ingleside community of Mandeville was raided.
Armed with a warrant bearing the candidate's name, SSP Adams and his team swooped down on the home in search of what was said to be contraband. Acting on what he said was "intelligence", It is reported that SSP Adams told Mr. Horne that he (Adams), did not know it was his (Horne's) house, or he would have handled the matter differently.
According to SSP Adams, he received reports that there were unusual activities, involving "guns and drugs" taking place at Horne's residence.
The house was the last of 27 premises raided by SSP Adams and his team that day. The raids resulted in several persons, mostly young men, being taken to the Mandeville police station where they were detained for questioning. A senior officer at the station told The Gleaner that none of the persons detained was charged or implicated in any illegal activity and they were subsequently released.
Mr. Horne told The Gleaner he felt the raid on his house was "politically motivated" and without merit. He invited the SSP Adams to search all his properties in the island.
He said the incident had affected his family, with his wife, who recently arrived in the island from the United States, wanting to leave until after the election, to protect the well-being of their children. Mr. Horne confirmed a police report that a ganja spliff was the only contraband found, and it was claimed by a labourer.
Mr. Horne told The Gleaner that the warrant, of which he had a copy, did not specify a particular address except to say "premises in the parish of Manchester" and was dated September 4, the day of the raid.
Some residents of Ingleside, told The Gleaner, they were outraged by the raid and had harsh words for the CMU team.
One returning resident said the Mandeville police had worked hard to build up a good relationship with the public and "they just come and tear it down" in one day.
Mr. Horne, a businessman, is challenging John Junor, attorney-at-law, Member of Parliament for Manchester Central and Minister of Health.
Mr. Horne is a former member of the PNP; his father is a PNP Councillor and Deputy Mayor of Black River. He switched to the JLP, replacing Dr. David Panton as candidate for Manchester Central, after Dr. Panton withdrew last year.
