A welding shop close to the People’s National Party (PNP) North-East St Ann constituency office on Windsor Road in St Ann’s Bay was destroyed by a fire early yesterday morning, sparking claims by the ruling party that the blaze was deliberately set by its political opponents.

No estimate has been put on the damage, but a police spokesperson said the matter was being treated as a case of suspected arson.

Police report that sometime after 3:00 am the shop was seen ablaze.

The St Ann’s Bay Fire Department, which was summoned, put out the blaze.

PNP representative for NE St Ann, Oswest Senior-Smith, was adamant that the blaze would not deter him and his team from continuing the work they have been doing in the constituency.

“The police are doing their work, but from information I have gathered so far, it was an intentional act, calculated to send a message, particularly since we have been on the ground over the past three to four weeks and it is obvious that the support of the PNP and myself has grown tremendously,” Senior-Smith told the Observer.

“We will not be daunted or scared; our people are prepared to continue to work. We certainly will never, never be intimidated. We will keep sight of our goal, which is to return the North-East constituency to the PNP,” Senior-Smith added.

Senior-Smith is contesting the seat against the incumbent Jamaica Labour Party member of Parliament, Shahine Robinson.