| Patterson postpones Mandeville tour to avoid confrontation |
| Observer Reporter Thursday, October 10, 2002 |
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| Patterson |
PRESIDENT of the People's National Party (PNP), PJ Patterson, has rescheduled a PNP mass rally originally planned for next Sunday in Mandeville to Monday, October 14.
"The change is to facilitate the Opposition, Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) meeting planned for Sam Sharpe Square in Montego Bay that same evening, and to ensure that there is no confrontation between supporters of both parties as they travel to and from the meetings," Patterson told festive supporters while on the campaign trail yesterday in Oracabessa, St Mary.
Patterson also announced that the PNP would abide by the decision of the Electoral Advisory Committee (EAC) to halt motorcades and meetings in the six designated troubled constituencies.
To this end, Patterson called off scheduled tours of the East St Andrew and Central Kingston constituencies. "These decisions were taken to ensure that not one life will be lost between now and election day," the PNP president said.
Following the meeting, the PNP leader journeyed to the parish capital, Port Maria where a mass meeting was held.
Patterson told supporters that he will return to St Mary early in his next term in office to break ground for the construction of segment three of the north coast highway.
He said the PNP has a record of performance in building more schools, more houses, and in making more land available to the people of Jamaica.
He added that the PNP's record of achievement was evidenced by the Lift Up Jamaica, Jamaica Social investment Fund and the Advancement through Health and Education Programmes.
Patterson said changes in the global environment meant that Jamaica would have to find ways to improve how it does business. He further noted that renewed emphasis would also be placed on tourism, as economic activities in the parish became more diverse.