JUNCTION, St Elizabeth – The ruling People’s National Party (PNP) candidate for South East St Elizabeth Norman Horne says he has written to political ombudsman Rev Herro Blair, urging his intervention because of “violence and intimidation” by Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) supporters in the constituency.

“I want to report perceived and continued acts of violence and intimidation on the part of JLP supporters against PNP constituents and the apparent lack of control by the JLP leadership within the constituency,” Horne said in his letter, which was read at a press conference at his constituency office in Junction yesterday.

And chairman of the PNP’s Region Five (Manchester and St Elizabeth) Michael Peart, who was also at the press conference, warned that the PNP would consider asking the ombudsman to “shut down” campaigning in the constituency ahead of the August 27 elections if violence continued. Peart also called on the commissioner of police to investigate the “effectiveness” of police probes in the constituency following complaints made by the PNP; and on Opposition Leader Bruce Golding to reign in his supporters.

Yesterday’s press conference followed violence in Junction Square, which marred nomination proceedings for SE St Elizabeth candidates on Tuesday and left several people injured.

Horne; Frank Witter of the JLP; Conrad Powell of the National Democratic Movement (NDM), and independent candidate Sharon Witter of Bull Savannah were nominated to contest the seat.

In his letter to Blair, Horne said: “The spirit and letter of the political code of conduct has been clearly violated and I urge your office to urgently intervene to prevent further injury to persons in the constituency to maintain the peace.”

Horne, supported by Peart and campaign manager and five-time member of parliament Derrick Rochester, told journalists that the “violence and intimidation” in the constituency was being largely carried out and instigated by outsiders.

Meanwhile, Horne and Rochester strongly rejected suggestions that Horne’s nomination was carried out 42 minutes later than scheduled. The alleged “lateness” was identified by Witter as a possible reason for the flare-up in Junction Square.

But Horne and Rochester insisted that they were allowed a 90-minute window from 10:00 am to 11:30 am for nomination and that they were midway the allotted time when they and a large number of supporters arrived at 10:42 am.

They also rejected as “not true” suggestions that the PNP disobeyed a pre-arranged plan by choosing to march through Junction Square after nomination proceedings.