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Friday, 20 March 2009
Political tension has escalated in the West Portland constituency after a house belonging to a reported People's National Party (PNP) activist was fire-bombed in Buff Bay Thursday night.
The PNP is claiming that the owner of the house, Omari Wray otherwise called "Sambo," was earlier threatened by persons said to be aligned to the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP).
Shortly before 8 o'clock, men went to the four bedroom board house located on Third Avenue in Diamond and reportedly threw homemade bombs into the building, setting it on fire.
Several persons have been left homeless.
Superintendent in charge of the Portland Police, Dudley Scott, says a team of senior investigators has been assigned to probe the case.
PNP Deputy General Secretary Julian Robinson describes the attack as disturbing.
"Nine persons from three families who lived in the house are now homeless ... Mr. Wray is a community leader, he's a well known activist within the area (and) he was threatened earlier in the day. Last week, faeces were thrown at the shop that he operates from.
While conceding that the party did not know who committed this crime, Mr, Robinson said "people have come to their own conclusion about it and it's an escalation which is very worrying and very disturbing and not very healthy for the by-election on Monday."
Thursday night's incident occurred as the JLP and the PNP prepared for the last lap of their campaigns for Monday's by-election in West Portland.
Earlier this week, Political Ombudsman Bishop Herro Blair asked the Commissioner of Police to assign a strong detachment of personnel to the constituency in light of growing tension involving supporters of the two parties.
Vaz distances himself from violence
And JLP candidate for West Portland Daryl Vaz is disassociating his campaign from any form of violence.
Mr. Vaz told RJR News that he was unaware of allegations that JLP supporters had threatened Mr. Wray.
"We ran an election in 2007 that was violence free ... I have no proof of any accusation by the PNP about JLP supporters burning down houses therefore, I'll await the results from the fire depart. However we don't support or need any intimation or violence against anybody in West Portland," he said.
Political tension has escalated in the West Portland constituency after a house belonging to a reported People's National Party (PNP) activist was fire-bombed in Buff Bay Thursday night.
The PNP is claiming that the owner of the house, Omari Wray otherwise called "Sambo," was earlier threatened by persons said to be aligned to the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP).
Shortly before 8 o'clock, men went to the four bedroom board house located on Third Avenue in Diamond and reportedly threw homemade bombs into the building, setting it on fire.
Several persons have been left homeless.
Superintendent in charge of the Portland Police, Dudley Scott, says a team of senior investigators has been assigned to probe the case.
PNP Deputy General Secretary Julian Robinson describes the attack as disturbing.
"Nine persons from three families who lived in the house are now homeless ... Mr. Wray is a community leader, he's a well known activist within the area (and) he was threatened earlier in the day. Last week, faeces were thrown at the shop that he operates from.
While conceding that the party did not know who committed this crime, Mr, Robinson said "people have come to their own conclusion about it and it's an escalation which is very worrying and very disturbing and not very healthy for the by-election on Monday."
Thursday night's incident occurred as the JLP and the PNP prepared for the last lap of their campaigns for Monday's by-election in West Portland.
Earlier this week, Political Ombudsman Bishop Herro Blair asked the Commissioner of Police to assign a strong detachment of personnel to the constituency in light of growing tension involving supporters of the two parties.
Vaz distances himself from violence
And JLP candidate for West Portland Daryl Vaz is disassociating his campaign from any form of violence.
Mr. Vaz told RJR News that he was unaware of allegations that JLP supporters had threatened Mr. Wray.
"We ran an election in 2007 that was violence free ... I have no proof of any accusation by the PNP about JLP supporters burning down houses therefore, I'll await the results from the fire depart. However we don't support or need any intimation or violence against anybody in West Portland," he said.
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