Candidates urged to obey the law

WESTERN BUREAU: NEWTON AMOS, Superintendent of Police in charge of St. James, has urged candidates for the June 19, Local Government Elections, to rein in their supporters and to adhere to the laws.

At a meeting called by Amos at the St. James Divisional Headquarters on Thursday, the top cop laid down some ground rules for the political aspirants, charging them to control their supporters while on the campaign trail. He threatened to report any act of misconduct on their part to Political Ombudsman, Bishop Herro Blair.

"Any party that allows such things to happen, I am prepared to say it publicly that I am having serious problems with this party, because they are not able to control their supporters and I am going to report it to the Political Ombudsman," the superintendent said.

"You can always arrange for my transfer," he told candidates of the governing People's National Party (PNP) and the Opposition Jamaica Labour Party (JLP).

He said swift action will be taken against persons who breach the law, particularly during motorcades, and announced that 65 additional police personnel would be arriving in the parish to boost the police capabilities in the pre-election period.

Superintendent Amos also urged the candidates to monitor their motorcades to ensure that their supporters adhere to the Road Traffic laws, as the police would be instructed to seize vehicles in which passengers are in breach. The practice of travelling on top of and protruding from motor vehicles will not be tolerated, he warned.

"I know how difficult it may be to contain and to constrain these people, but we must try and, in the presence of the police, we would like to see that kind of leadership being demonstrated, because I am going to ensure that the vehicles are seized and perpetrators are prosecuted according to law," he said.

He also urged the candidates to observe the law when staging their political meetings, by applying to him, beforehand, for permission to stage the meetings. He implored them not to disrupt each other's political meetings. And he warned police officers that serious action would be taken against them if they carried out their duties in a partisan manner.