The leadership of the People's National Party (PNP) and the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) in Clarendon have issued a joint statement yesterday calling for peace.
This follows several violent incidents involving rival PNP and JLP supporters in the parish in recent times. Mike Henry, the JLP Member of Parliament (MP) for Clarendon Central and Horace Dalley, PNP MP representing Clarendon Northern, met yesterday and examined reports from their respective candidates.
In a joint statement, the political representatives said the meeting was convened out of concern among the leadership of both parties in the parish that the reported clashes between rival supporters must be brought to an end. Mr. Henry and Mr. Dalley on behalf of the JLP and the PNP, called for peace on all sides.
"In anticipation of the next 12 days of campaigning, we are calling on the candidates on both sides to exercise strong leadership and control over their supporters so that acts such as the stoning of motorcades will not recur," the joint PNP/JLP statement said.
The political leaders in Clarendon also agreed to exchange information about their campaign activities such as motorcades and meetings on a daily basis. They have also agreed to make an attempt to convene a meeting of all 12 candidates on both sides as well as the Clarendon Police High Command to bring peace and harmony to campaign activities in the parish.
The political leaders are further calling on their supporters to ensure that peace prevails in Clarendon. Both Mr. Dalley and Mr. Henry agreed to do all they can to ensure the maintenance of peace, including where possible, visiting problem areas jointly without any entourage, to quell disturbances. The leaders said they recommitted themselves to the Political Code of Conduct and will be resolute in disciplining supporters who perpetrate violence.
Meanwhile Prime Minister P. J. Patterson yesterday issued a directive to PNP supporters not to interfere with JLP motorcades, groups or individual JLP supporters on their way to and from today's meeting in Half-Way Tree.
