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BY DONNA HUSSEY-WHYTE Observer staff reporter husseyd@jamaicaobserver.com
Thursday, December 29, 2011
ADDITIONAL police had to be called out at the White Horses Basic School in West St Thomas this morning to quell a fracas between supporters of the two major political parties, following a reported attempt by Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) candidate James Robertson to erect three tents in the vicinity of the five polling stations.
The incident was confirmed by Patrick Bennett, the deputy superintendent in charge of operations for St Thomas.
“Erecting of the tents is in contravention with the EOJ's (Electoral Office of Jamaica) rules,” said DSP Bennett. “If it was from the EOJ we would have allowed it. Everything that goes on the property has to be sanctioned by them.”
The deputy superintendent said that two police officers were originally deployed to the location but that said that backup had to be called in as a result of the severity of the incident. This reporter counted 12 police officers on the scene, along with a van with about seven soldiers.
PNP supporter and former candidate for the constituency, Gary Foster, was irate over the incident.
“James knows the law and he knows that it is not allowed. Yet he came here with a truck and three tents to pitch right beside the polling stations,” Foster fumed. “Everything was all right before he turned up. Now you have the two parties cussing each other. Even families arguing with each other now. As a MP that should not happen!”
A truck with the tents was seen exiting the compound when the Observer arrived on the scene.
Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/lates...#ixzz1hx2Zzvq1
Thursday, December 29, 2011
ADDITIONAL police had to be called out at the White Horses Basic School in West St Thomas this morning to quell a fracas between supporters of the two major political parties, following a reported attempt by Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) candidate James Robertson to erect three tents in the vicinity of the five polling stations.
The incident was confirmed by Patrick Bennett, the deputy superintendent in charge of operations for St Thomas.
“Erecting of the tents is in contravention with the EOJ's (Electoral Office of Jamaica) rules,” said DSP Bennett. “If it was from the EOJ we would have allowed it. Everything that goes on the property has to be sanctioned by them.”
The deputy superintendent said that two police officers were originally deployed to the location but that said that backup had to be called in as a result of the severity of the incident. This reporter counted 12 police officers on the scene, along with a van with about seven soldiers.
PNP supporter and former candidate for the constituency, Gary Foster, was irate over the incident.
“James knows the law and he knows that it is not allowed. Yet he came here with a truck and three tents to pitch right beside the polling stations,” Foster fumed. “Everything was all right before he turned up. Now you have the two parties cussing each other. Even families arguing with each other now. As a MP that should not happen!”
A truck with the tents was seen exiting the compound when the Observer arrived on the scene.
Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/lates...#ixzz1hx2Zzvq1
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