JLP reports of plans to disrupt voting

Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) leader Edward Seaga (centre) refers to an advertisement put out by his party in yesterday's Gleaner to clear up his financial issues during a wrap-up press conference at the JLP's Belmont Road, New Kingston, headquarters. At left is Ryan Peralto, chairman, and at second right Derrick Smith, deputy leader, of the party. - Ian Allen/Staff Photographer

THE JAMAICA Labour Party (JLP) yesterday charged that there were plans to disrupt voting in certain marginal constituencies today, by infringements of the voting regulations and by violence which would allow those constituencies to be declared for the People's National Party (PNP).

According to party leader Edward Seaga, information reaching the party was that persons wearing plain green T-shirts, posing as JLP supporters, would be involved in the "planned and systematic disruption suggesting that they are acting on behalf of the JLP".

He told reporters at a press conference at the JLP's headquarters in Kingston that the seats to be targeted were North West St. Andrew, South East St. Andrew, East St. Andrew, West Central St. Andrew, North East St. Catherine, North Clarendon, Western Westmoreland, South West St. Elizabeth and Northern Trelawny. He said that the information has been passed on to the police.

"When something comes to you with the frequency that this has come in the past few hours, then it's something that we have to take note of," Mr. Seaga said. "We, of course, would have the recourse of going to the Constituted Authority to have these sections of the constituencies put back to the challenge of an election but, in the meantime, the PNP would be able to declare a majority count in the seats.

"We would have to go to the Authority to contest those sections in the seats that are affected in order to be able to be the majority winner eventually."

He said the JLP had no direct evidence but was concerned about the extent to which this information was coming to the party from various areas.

"I'm passing on to the security forces what information I have because it would seem that this could be a last hard play in order to try to secure a victory that is slipping away from the PNP," Mr. Seaga said.

Citing Abe Dabdoub's North East St. Catherine as an example, Mr. Seaga said contender Phyllis Mitchell had moved her office directly in front of his - a surefire intimidatory move and direct provocation.

"The matter has been reported to the Political Ombudsman and the Election Centre headed by Professor Errol Miller, Chairman of the Electoral Advisory Committee, with a view to having a directive sent to Mrs. Mitchell to have her office removed from that location which is direct provocation," Mr. Seaga said.