Jamaica Labour Party supporters who were part of the motorcade at the party's mass meeting at Stony Hill square in the West Rural St. Andrew constituency Sunday night. - Ian Allen/Staff Photographer

THE NATION'S two major political parties - the governing People's National Party (PNP) and the Opposition Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) - have expressed grave concerns about acts of political intimidation and other breaches of the Political Code of Conduct on the campaign trail.

Karl Samuda, general secretary of the JLP, and the PNP's campaign director, Dr. Paul Robertson, both said they are "very concerned" with the many incidents thus far.

With 41 days to go before the national polls on August 27, both political parties have accused each other of breaching the Code of Conduct, the agreed guideline for peaceful elections.

Up to press time yesterday, the Office of the Political Ombudsman had received 39 complaints since February, which include, among other things, political intimidation and other breaches of the code.

Twenty-seven of these incidents have been reported since June, and this figure does not include the numerous reported incidents of intimidation that took place after July 3, the last date a complaint was lodged with the office.

At least four of the reported cases are acts of violence, such as shooting and murder.

Party leaders' statement

Last Friday, Political Ombudsman Bishop Herro Blair convened a meeting between Opposition Leader Bruce Golding and Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller, and both leaders issued a joint statement through that office yesterday.

"As Prime Minister and president of the People's National Party, and the Leader of the Opposition and the Jamaica Labour Party, we state emphatically that we condemn any act of provocation, intimidation, or political violence that has already smeared the campaign. We want no further politically connected injury, loss of life or loss of property," the statement said.

Both parties are reported to have come under attack on the campaign trail in recent days. The PNP said that many of their buses returning from Half-Way Tree on July 8, when the Prime Minister named the election date, were stoned and some of its supporters beaten up.

As recent as Saturday, a JLP supporter was chased and beaten in a shop in Green Island, Hanover. He was said to be among a group of men who blocked the road on a PNP motorcade.

The JLP has also had some scary moments, chief among them being a reported gun attack on a motorcade in Brandon Hill, West Rural St. Andrew, on Sunday.

According to Detective Sergeant Hall of the Protective Services, the motorcade came under heavy gunfire in Brandon Hill.

The detective sergeant said that, as a member of the security detail of the JLP leader, his life and that of Mr. Golding was under threat during the shooting.

He said it was the quick action of uniformed police who returned the fire why the alleged gunmen ran.

"Where we were at, it was an ideal spot for an ambush," he said, explaining that the motorcade could not turn back when the gunfire broke out.

But General Secretary of the PNP, Donald Buchanan, gave a different version of what unfolded, saying that residents in Brandon Hill reported that it was persons travelling in the motorcade who opened fire while passing through the community.

Up to press time, neither the Stony Hill police nor the Political Ombudsman had received a report of the shooting.Also, Joseph Hibbert, the JLP candidate for East Rural St. Andrew, had missiles thrown at his vehicle in Harbour View. Joan Gordon-Webley, another JLP candidate, said that her vehicle was shot at in the McGreggor Gully area of the South East St. Andrew constituency.

Despite saying that they are worried for their supporters, Colin Campbell, the Prime Minister's road manager for the PNP's campaign, said Mrs. Simpson Miller will continue her tour of the island with her candidates.

"We are not intimidated by anyone," Mr. Campbell said.

When asked about the security of the Prime Minster, Mr. Campbell said Mrs. Simpson Miller "has excellent security; we don't compromise that".

Meanwhile, in spite of the many incidents, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Owen Ellington, says the police may not be deploying more personnel.

"I wouldn't deploy more police because at the moment we are overdeployed," he told The Gleaner.

ACP Ellington also said that the political representatives should report incidents to the police, instead of the media.

"A far more productive approach would be the reporting of these incidents to the police instead of the media, as some times they are exaggerated.

"I am concerned about the number of reports. I don't think it is at a stage to panic, because it can be maintained. Much more can be achieved with dialogue between the police and political organisers."

At least one area chief is ready to deal with the offshoot of the elections.

Head of the Area Five police, ACP Reginald Grant, says his organisation is in total readiness for the August 27 general election.

ACP Grant says the police have gone under proper orientation and are quite knowledgeable about their responsibilities during the election period.