Forbes

POLICE COMMISSIONER Francis Forbes has agreed to a request from the Electoral Advisory Committee (EAC) not to grant permission for motorcades, political meetings, rallies and tours in six violence-prone constituencies, following an escalation of conflicts between political rivals since Nomination Day.

The EAC, through its Chairman Professor Errol Miller, had written to the Commissioner on Monday asking him to exercise certain discretion in granting the permits following a special meeting of the advisory body to discuss the problem.

The targeted constituencies are Kingston Central, St. Thomas Western, St. Andrew West Central, St. Catherine Central, Manchester Central and St. Andrew Eastern.

Commissioner Forbes said he would also curtail political meetings on Friday, October 11, when members of the security forces and The rest of the population will vote on Wednesday, October 16.

"In addition to the co-operation with the Electoral Advisory Committee and the Director of Elections, we will be putting in place additional resources in the six constituencies to include the deployment of additional security force members to these areas," a news release from the Constabulary Communication Network (CCN) said last night.

It said that "due to the new developments in Manchester Central, which has seen criminal elements and troublemakers migrating to that general area, a strong contingent of members of the security forces will be deployed to support the local police until after the elections".

According to the CCN, although there was an increase in shootings, they had resulted in a relatively small number of injuries and deaths. It also said the security forces would maintain a zero tolerance approach in dealing with motorcades.

As such, passengers wearing masks would be specially targeted "since the information coming to us is that many members of the criminal underworld are disguising themselves by wearing these masks and moving with the crowd", the CCN statement said.