INCUMBENT Jamaica Labour Party candidate for Eastern St Andrew, St Aubyn Bartlett, narrowly escaped injury Wednesday night when his Toyota Prado was shot up in the community of Tavern in his constituency.

Three of Bartlett’s supporters were shot during the incident which occurred during a tour of the community when the convoy of vehicles they were travelling in came under gunfire.

The identities of the three injured persons were not released by the police, but a JLP source said two of them are women. One of the women was shot in the lower back, the other sustained a shattered ankle, while the lone male was grazed in the head.

According to Bartlett’s constituency secretary, Carlene Sinclair, the attack lasted for more than 10 minutes and was carried out by men wearing orange shirts.

“When we reached Tavern Avenue a white car passed us and as we wondered what was their hurry, when we heard one shot first. After that it was a barrage of gunshots,” Sinclair told the Observer.

The first shot entered Bartlett’s vehicle near the gas tank and hit one of the women in her lower back before exiting through the left side of the vehicle. Sinclair’s car, a Suzuki Vitara and a Nissan Bluebird belonging to JLP councillor Garfield Lee, was also damaged in the incident.

The gunmen then fled the scene and the injured persons were taken to hospital where one was admitted.

Yesterday, the JLP urged its supporters not to fight back.

“We are calling on all our workers and supporters to resist the urge to retaliate and remain resolute in the face of these attacks,” JLP public relations administrator Delano Seivwright said.