Parties red-flagged - Ombudsman says orange and green graffiti must go

Published in Jamaica Gleaner: Wednesday | August 1, 2007

The Political Ombudsman yesterday demanded that all political candidates remove their party flags, posters, graffiti and paraphernalia within the various constituencies by this weekend.

The Ombudsman, Bishop Herro Blair, told The Gleaner yesterday that he made the request of the representatives of the two main political parties - the governing People's National Party (PNP) and opposition Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), during a meeting convened at his New Kingston office.

"They have breached the code and they must respond accordingly," Bishop Blair said.

The Political Ombudsman, who has recently come under fire from residents of some constituencies, said his office has received complaints from citizens who are feeling victimised or intimidated by the flags in their communities.

"Wherever they are they should be removed," he said.

Bishop Blair said he has also informed the representatives that, if the flags are not removed, the candidates of the particular constituencies in which they are mounted will be named.

The Gleaner understands there are nearly two dozen flags - some orange and some green - mounted on street poles along Mountain View Avenue in east St. Andrew. There have also been reports of flags strung along sections of the main road, in western St. Thomas, as well as reports of political intimidation in the west Portland constituency.

Agreed with the decision

It is understood that, during the meeting with Bishop Blair, the representatives of the parties agreed with the decision and said they would be instructing their candidates to adhere to the command.

Among those representatives present at the meeting were JLP general secretary Karl Samuda; deputy leader Derrick Smith; and Colin Campbell, a campaign organiser for the PNP.

With 26 days to go before the national elections on August 27, both political parties have accused each other of breaching the Political Code of Conduct.

Less than two weeks ago, residents of Mountain View Avenue demanded that party flags, mounted on utility poles in their community, be removed.

The residents said they believed the presence of the flags and other graffiti had contributed to increasing political tension in the area.

"You must take them down, you are the bishop," one man shouted at Bishop Blair, who was touring the area for yet another time with the Peace Management Initiative (PMI).

Yesterday afternoon, a man was killed 12 days after another male was murdered in the Woodford Park community of the constituency.

This killing brought the number of persons murdered in the community, in less than two months, to three.

While the Constabulary Communication Network last night confirmed the death, it was unable to provide details of the man's identity.

PNP incumbent in the constituency, Maxine Henry-Wilson, said she would not state that political violence has claimed the lives of men from thearea as it was up to the police to do their job.

Mrs. Henry-Wilson was also reluctant to say whether any PNP supporters from the constituency had been murdered.

"I am not about running around claiming dead bodies," Mrs. Henry-Wilson told The Gleaner. "Some people of no affiliations have died and others have claimed their bodies."

When contacted yesterday evening, Joan Gordon-Webley, the JLP's candidate for the constituency, said she had only just heard of the shooting and would be investigating the matter