By Nagra Plunkett, Staff Reporter

Derrick Robinson, PNP candidate for Spring Gardens division (right), in dialogue with JLP candidate for the Montego Central division Charles Sinclair (left) and JLP activist, Dennis Meadows, during yesterday's meeting called by the Political Ombudsman, Bishop Herro Blair, at the Wexford Court Hotel in Montego Bay to discuss Local Government elections violence. - Patrick Campbell/Staff Photographer

WESTERN BUREAU:

THE TWO major political parties and the police in St. James have issued a joint four-point agreement aimed at quelling the tension between opposing Local Government candidates in the parish.

This followed a three-hour meeting convened by Political Ombudsman Bishop Herro Blair, at the Wexford Court Hotel in Montego Bay yesterday.

"The main part of the communiqué is to denounce all acts or forms of intimidation, violence or anything that would come against the candidates," the Ombudsman said. He was speaking with reporters following the meeting.

He stressed that "this was not a trial, this was not even an investigation, this was trying to defuse a situation and we have been successful so far."

The talks came three days after a request by the governing People's National Party (PNP) for the Political Ombudsman to address apparent breaches of the Political Code of Conduct during campaigning for the June 19 Local Government polls.

In a detailed letter to Bishop Blair, the party stated that three of its candidates ­ Osmond Erskine of Montego Bay Central, Milton Russell, Montego Bay West, and Derrick Robinson, Spring Gardens division, "were either attacked or experienced some type of intimidation from known Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) supporters".

The situation reportedly climaxed on Monday evening when pamphlets with slanderous information relating to Messrs Erskine and Russell surfaced. There are also allegations that JLP supporters attacked Mr. Russell and that guns were pulled on him when he confronted them about the leaflets in his home community of Whitehouse, Montego Bay.

As it relates to the pamphlets, the Ombuds-man said he had "found out that the materials being circulated indeed can be libellous" and could not be dealt with at the meeting.

Deputy Superintendent Derrick Knight, Crime Chief for St. James, said the police were currently investigating two matters which have led to the tension between the two parties.

"There was a matter out in Whitehouse where an allegation of assault was made and one yesterday in Flankers where there was some confrontation between the two parties," he told The Gleaner.

Derrick Kellier, State Minister for National Security and Chairman of the PNP Region Six, said that he is very happy with the outcome of the discussions.

"I believe it will be a useful exercise and I'm sure it will go well in respect of the next couple of days providing both parties adhere to the restrictions that he (the Political Ombudsman) has put in place. It will be better for the entire community and it is better for the political process," Mr. Kellier added.

Horace Chang, JLP Member of Parliament for St. James North West, said he was satisfied that there was enough dialogue to ensure that no escalation of violence and intimidation takes place.