Politicians on the hustings in recent weeks have been contributing to the tension among communities with their ill-advised charges and rhetoric targeted at their opponents.

In the run-up to the next general election, we expect that these charges will increase in volume and vitriol as the various candidates and leaders engage in propaganda to suit their cause. We expect, too, that as the campaign intensifies, the politicians and their various hacks will target the media for verbal assault, as has already happened in recent weeks. This is par for the course.

The media, of course, are not above criticism and indeed it is predictable among those seeking to parse every sentence and juxtaposition of articles to confirm their particular jaundiced perspectives. Attacking the messenger is as old as the hills. Indeed, Jamaica has had its ugly episodes of political violence and of journalists being attacked for carrying out their work in serving the public.

But the leaders of our political parties have a particular responsibility, we suggest, to set the tone for their followers on how they conduct themselves among each other and when they face people of differing views as they campaign for public office. Their comments can either defuse or add to the tension. In recent years, the Political Ombudsman, through the Peace Management Initiative (PMI), has played a particularly important role in reducing tension and conflict among communities. It is important that the political leaders give clear and unequivocal support to the Political Ombudsman and the PMI, and that this support be telegraphed to their supporters. It is better to channel concerns through this office and to the police where necessary, without resorting to trumpeting concerns abroad in a manner that only serves to pour fuel on burning embers.

With the Jamaica Labour Party already on the road and the People's National Party revving its engine, the potential for more clashes and confrontations will increase. The times, therefore, call for a level-headed approach to conflict and not hysterical outbursts. Our politicians need to cool the rhetoric at all levels.

At the same time, while we concede that it is absurd that the mounting of flags by itself should be seen as provocative, within the context of Jamaica's tribal politics we urge the representatives to remove them, and posters, where these have clearly violated the Political Code of Conduct.

More importantly, our political campaigns should be about issues and not personality attacks. And it is for wider civil society also to hold those who would seek office to high principles of conduct.

The Jamaican public must reject the idea of particular areas being PNP or JLP territory, off-limits to anyone else. Too much work has gone into reducing the worst manifestations of garrison politics for Jamaica to slip back into that kind of behaviour. We must insist that our politicians lead by example and be held accountable where they fail to meet these standards.