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Clarendon political leaders call for peace
The
leadership of the People's National Party (PNP) and the Jamaica
Labour Party (JLP) in Clarendon have issued a joint statement
yesterday calling for peace.
This
follows several violent incidents involving rival PNP and
JLP supporters in the parish in recent times. Mike Henry,
the JLP Member of Parliament (MP) for Clarendon Central and
Horace Dalley, PNP MP representing Clarendon Northern, met
yesterday and examined reports from their respective candidates.
In
a joint statement, the political representatives said the
meeting was convened out of concern among the leadership of
both parties in the parish that the reported clashes between
rival supporters must be brought to an end. Mr. Henry and
Mr. Dalley on behalf of the JLP and the PNP, called for peace
on all sides.
"In
anticipation of the next 12 days of campaigning, we are calling
on the candidates on both sides to exercise strong leadership
and control over their supporters so that acts such as the
stoning of motorcades will not recur," the joint PNP/JLP
statement said.
The
political leaders in Clarendon also agreed to exchange information
about their campaign activities such as motorcades and meetings
on a daily basis. They have also agreed to make an attempt
to convene a meeting of all 12 candidates on both sides as
well as the Clarendon Police High Command to bring peace and
harmony to campaign activities in the parish.
The
political leaders are further calling on their supporters
to ensure that peace prevails in Clarendon. Both Mr. Dalley
and Mr. Henry agreed to do all they can to ensure the maintenance
of peace, including where possible, visiting problem areas
jointly without any entourage, to quell disturbances. The
leaders said they recommitted themselves to the Political
Code of Conduct and will be resolute in disciplining supporters
who perpetrate violence.
Meanwhile
Prime Minister P. J. Patterson yesterday issued a directive
to PNP supporters not to interfere with JLP motorcades, groups
or individual JLP supporters on their way to and from today's
meeting in Half-Way Tree.
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