CLARENDON:
JAMAICA LABOUR Party (JLP) candidate for Clarendon North, Laurence Broderick and 25 of his supporters were ambushed in front of the People's National Party (PNP) office in Kellits on Saturday.
Travelling in a convoy of six vehicles from the election centre in Crofts Hill, where the counting was taking place, the JLP entourage came under heavy and sustained gunfire as residents of the town took cover. The police were unable to contain the fire.
Two vehicles were destroyed, one of which was driven by a security officer travelling behind Mr. Broderick. The security officer fled the scene and has not been seen since. The mob, in PNP colours, descended on the vehicle, slashed the tyres, shattered the windshield and proceeded to vandalise the vehicle. The same was done to a pick-up which had to be abandoned in the attack. Both vehicles it is alleged are at the Crofts Hill Police Station.
The remaining vehicles then proceeded towards Brandon Hill where, upon reaching Turtle Pond, a district midway between Kellits and Brandon Hill, they awaited the arrival of the police and soldiers who had been called to assist two-and-a-half hours earlier.
The Crofts Hill police did not respond to calls for assistance and, subsequently the May Pen police were contacted and they responded.
Mr. Broderick said that he is again calling on the Prime Minister to take the strongest disciplinary action against the PNP supporters involved, all of whom, he said, are well known to the Crofts Hill police.
