Police: ‘We are ready’
THE police yesterday indicated their readiness to maintain law and order during the upcoming general elections on August 27.
Deputy Commissioner in charge of operations, Linval Bailey, told reporters during a press conference at the Police Officers’ Club in Kingston that the police had been studying political activities islandwide and had devised a strategy to ensure that voters would be protected from violence and other forms of intimidation.
“Our real intention is the maintenance of law and order and public safety. We are ready for the elections and we have covered all the angles,” Bailey said.
He said the police would ensure that voters have free passage to polling stations, polling stations are secured and that election day workers are protected.
“There will be no unauthorised assembly within 100 metres of a polling station,” he told reporters.
Meanwhile, Bailey urged media workers to work with the police to minimise the chances of them being harmed.
“Work closely with the police, be in touch with the divisional commanders,” he advised.
The police will set up command centres at the police commissioner’s office and at area and divisional levels.
Political violence has increased over recent weeks as the election date draws near and Bailey said the police had already identified what he described as ‘political hot spots’.
He pointed out the communities of Woodford Park and Mountain View in South-East St Andrew, Central Village in South- Central St Catherine, and Stony Hill and Brandon Hill in West Rural St Andrew as areas where the police would be paying close attention to on election day.
“We have done our threat assessments,” he said.
Several communities, including Torrington Park, Common and Arnett Gardens in the Corporate Area and sections of Montego Bay have a history of internal violence, although being political garrisons. Yesterday, Bailey pointed out that the police would not be caught with their pants down. The police, he said, would be monitoring those areas closely.
“Those areas will be targeted. We cannot give them up for one day or we might lose them forever,” he said.
He indicated that the police would have a strong presence at counting centres and would monitor the routes taken by candidates to deter any chance of supporters of opposing candidates clashing on Nomination Day, which is slated for August 7.
The police effort is expected to be bolstered by the arrival of a batch of new vehicles and equipment.
“We are adequately supplied with lethal and non-lethal weapons,” he said.
The Jamaica Defence Force is also expected to assist the police on election day. There will also be 12,000 ‘one-day police officers’ who will help to maintain order at polling stations.
