Ombudsman asked to investigate JLP attacks on PNP supporters
Monday, September 30, 2002
The People’s National Party (PNP) has asked Political Ombudsman, Bishop Herro Blair to investigate incidents in which PNP supporters were attacked by supporters of the Opposition Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) at Higgins Land in South East St. Ann on Wednesday (September 25). The attacks resulted in injury to one supporter while the house of another was burnt.
General Secretary of the PNP Mrs. Maxine Henry-Wilson on Friday (September 27) wrote to Bishop Blair in response to a report submitted to her by the PNP’s candidate for South East St. Ann, Aloun N’dombet Assamba, outlining the incidents.
Mrs. Wilson noted in her letter that she had received reports that supporters of the JLP had attacked Ms. Assamba’s supporters resulting in the injuring of one PNP supporter, during a tour of the constituency. She added that it was further reported that a supporter of the JLP threatened another PNP supporter to “bun him out”. The threat was later carried out.
The General Secretary pointed out that the actions on the part of the JLP supporters were carried out in the presence and hearing of the JLP candidate for the constituency. She has asked for a full investigation and ruling on the matter, since the actions are in breach of rules 1a,b,c, 2 and 3 of Appendix 1 of the political Code of Conduct.
Meanwhile, in her report to the PNP General Secretary, Senator Assamba stated that the JLP candidate tried to speak to the woman who was hurt, to attempt to pay her for the injuries she received. The report said however, that one of her supporters intervened and told her not to deal with him and pulled her away.
The PNP supporter was then set upon by one of the JLP supporter who threatened to “burn him out”.