COMMISSIONER of Police Lucius Thomas yesterday accepted the recommendation of the Electoral Commission of Jamaica (ECJ) to withdraw permission for political meetings, marches, motorcades, rallies and tours in Western St Thomas and South Eastern St Elizabeth.

In a release from the constabulary, Thomas said that he received the recommendation from ECJ chairman Professor Errol Miller yesterday, and he has since formally advised the commission that he would implement it with immediate effect.

The decision came just a day after the police banned all political activities in the Central Manchester town of Mandeville, following clashes between political opponents.

Thomas also announced yesterday that no permission would be granted for election activities on Tuesday, August 21, when members of the security forces and election day workers are scheduled to vote.

On Wednesday, Director of Elections Danville Walker, and Political Ombudsman Bishop Herro Blair met the candidates for Western St Thomas and South East St Elizabeth and scolded them about violence in their campaigns.

Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) deputy leader and incumbent, James Robertson, is facing the People’s National Party’s (PNP) Rosemarie Shaw in Western St Thomas, while the candidates for South East St Elizabeth are the PNP’s Norman Horne and the JLP’s Franklyn Witter.

The candidates were warned to shape up or face sanctions. However, the violent acts and breaches of the Political Code of Conduct continued, forcing Wednesday’s meeting.