Cool the violence or lose the vote, warns Walker

Published in the Jamaica Gleaner: Saturday | August 11, 2007

Director of Elections, Danville Walker, has threatened to have the general election postponed in two tension-filled constituencies if incidents of violence and civil disturbance continue throughout the ongoing campaign.

"The Electoral Commission has noted incidents and allegations made on nomination day in the constituencies of St. Elizabeth South East and St. Andrew West Central which seem to suggest that there is the distinct possibility that unruly and illegal actions of supporters could escalate to unacceptable levels prior to election day on August 27, 2007, despite the best efforts of the candidates," Mr. Walker said in a release issued yesterday afternoon.

Enforce the laws

The director of elections noted that the Representation of the People Act is clear on the circumstances under which elections must not be conducted, namely, riot, civil disturbance and open violence. He said the Electoral Commission was obliged to enforce the laws governing elections without exception and that its authority to do so commenced on nomination day.

"The commission has informed the constituencies that, should such incidents of civil disturbance and open violence continue to occur in the constituencies, the commission will apply to the commissioner of police to ban all public acts of campaigning in the constituencies as a first step," Mr. Walker said. "If this action fails to restore peace and good order the commission will then apply to the Governor-General in council to postpone the elections in the constituencies so that the full resources of the State can be applied to the constituencies to bring about the peace and good order in which elections are to be conducted."

On nomination day, a clash broke out between supporters of the People's National Party (PNP) and the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) shortly after the PNP's candidate, Norman Horne, was nominated.

In St. Andrew West Central, the JLP's Andrew Holness and the PNP's Patrick Roberts have accused each other's supporters of violence and intimidation.