ST. ANN: AS CAMPAIGNING for the June 19 Local Government election begins to heat up in St. Ann, the People's National Party (PNP) have already began to cry foul, accusing the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) of involving obeah in the campaign.

Over the past two weeks it was being rumoured by PNP supporters, especially in the St. Ann's Bay and Lime Hall divisions, that certain JLP candidate were using obeah to improve their chances of winning.

But, it was councillor for the St. Ann's Bay division, Eva Murdock, who went public with the matter while addressing a PNP workers meeting at the Marcus Garvey Technical High School in St. Ann's Bay on Saturday.

While not naming anyone in particular, Mrs. Murdock said, "Comrades!, I hear, I hear that the other side is going to obeah man, but I just want to tell them that the candidate of the PNP is covered in the blood and we are well covered."

She said the PNP should not fear, but to go out and do what they are told to do and the party will be able to bring home all the seats.

Responding to the comments made by Mrs. Murdock, JLP caretaker for the St. Ann's Bay division, Dalas Dickenson, emphatically denied any knowledge of any JLP candidate or supporter involving obeah in the election campaign in St. Ann. He described Mrs. Murdock's comment as baseless and a desperate attempt to win sympathy from the people.

Mr. Dickenson said anyone who should be using obeah in the election campaign would have to be the PNP, "because they are the ones who brought hardship on the people and still seeking a return to office." He said Councillor Murdock has been the councillor for the St. Ann's Bay Division for over 16 years and that there is nothing she can show as an achievement over those years.

The JLP caretaker noted that roads, playfields, drains and other infrastructures in St. Ann's Bay have been allowed to deteriorate as a result of poor representation and that the JLP had no need to turn to obeah, because the PNP have already done enough to hurt themselves.