THE Electoral Commission of Jamaica (ECJ) yesterday turned its searchlight on West Central St Andrew and South East St Elizabeth, warning that continued violence could lead to a postponement of the elections in those constituencies.

The warning from the ECJ, obviously triggered by acts of violence which occurred on Tuesday, Nomination Day, said that the commission had taken note of the incidents and allegations made in both constituencies.

The West Central St Andrew seat is being contested by the Jamaica Labour Party’s (JLP) Andrew Holness and the People’s National Party’s (PNP’s) Patrick Roberts, while in South East St Elizabeth, the PNP’s Norman Horne is up against the JLP’s Franklyn Witter.

Yesterday, the ECJ said that the activities reported “seem to suggest that there is the distinct possibility that unruly and illegal actions of supporters could escalate to unacceptable levels, prior to Election Day – August 27 – despite the best efforts of the candidates”.

The commission said the continuation of “unruly and illegal” actions could lead to the postponement of the elections in the two constituencies.

In a press statement issued yesterday by Director of Elections Danville Walker, the Electoral Commission made it clear that it had the right to apply to the governor general to postpone the elections in constituencies where violence persists.

“The commission has informed the constituencies that should such incidents of civil disturbance and open violence continue to occur in the constituencies, the commission will apply to the commissioner of police to ban all public acts of campaigning in the constituencies, as a first step,” the statement said.

“If this action fails to restore peace and good order, the commission will then apply to the governor general in council to postpone the elections in the constituencies, so that the full resources of the state can be applied to the constituencies to bring about the peace and good order in which elections are to be conducted.”

The commission also pointed out that the Representation of the People Act was clear as to the circumstances under which the elections must not be conducted, namely, riot, civil disturbance and open violence.

“The Electoral Commission is obliged to enforce the laws governing elections, without exception, and its authority to do so commenced on Nomination Day,” the statement said.

The Junction police were forced to fire shots to keep the JLP and PNP crowds at bay during Tuesday’s nomination proceedings.

The police said they had also received reports that while the PNP supporters were on their way to the nomination centre, missiles were thrown into a crowd, injuring several JLP supporters.

They also confirmed that a man, said to be a supporter of the PNP, was held with a 9mm firearm and arrested.

In West Central St Andrew, Nomination Day violence started Tuesday morning with the shooting up of a dance staged by JLP supporters on Olympic Way. All roads leading off the main were subsequently blocked by residents in fear of drive-by shootings.