JUNCTION, St Elizabeth — Prime minister and People’s National Party President Portia Simpson Miller avoided name-calling and made only a few references to the “other side”.

But it was obvious that recent shootings at Opposition Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) events in Montego Bay as well as an ongoing tiff with JLP leader Andrew Holness were foremost in her mind as Simpson Miller addressed Comrades at a mass rally on Thursday night.

The prime minister told Comrades packed into Junction square to avoid confrontations with political opponents and to put Jamaica first at all times.

“I want to ask Comrades across the country, even if you are provoked, do not respond in a negative way. Smile and walk away. This is Jamaica, our Jamaica; this is our land,” she said.

And while the police have said that two shootings, which left three people dead and several injured — firstly at a JLP mass rally in Montego Bay and secondly during a Nomination Day motorcade through the community of Flanker, just outside the western city — were unrelated to politics, Simpson Miller was taking no chances.

“When I announced the election date in Half-Way-Tree almost two weeks ago, I called for a peaceful election campaign. I am making that call again tonight; we are one people shaping the future together,” Simpson Miller said.

“There must be no repeat of what happened in Montego Bay. Comrades, all of us must work with the security forces to prevent murders and other crimes in our country,” she said.

Against the backdrop of threats by her lawyers to take legal action against Holness for an alleged slur, and also calls for Holness to apologise, Simpson Miller told supporters that it was important to protect personal reputation.

“I have devoted more than 40 years to creating and supporting community and national instutions which are committed to peace, justice, truth, honesty and integrity in national life.

“The PNP rejects intimidation and violence of any kind; the PNP rejects utterances that incite violence. We reject behaviour that bring people into disrepute. Some of us, we don’t have any money, we don’t have any big possessions, all we have is our reputation and we will defend our reputation at all times,” Simpson Miller said.

“We all have a stake in our country and Jamaica’s future; we all must get involved to secure peace and investment in our country,” she said.

Simpson Miller argued that the PNP had always been the political party of progress and had been successful over the last four years in stabilising the economy and was in the process of rebuilding. Employment, she argued, was already on the improve, following the economic downturn of a few years ago, and was set to gather momentum.

In such circumstances, she expressed confidence that Jamaicans would recognise the importance of sticking with the PNP on February 25.

“This election is about you, the people of Jamaica, the best leadership for your communities and your constituencies. It is about choosing the best leadership for Jamaica, leadership with integrity, leadership you can trust. Elections February 25 will decide Jamaica’s future for generations to come,” she said.

Simpson Miller used the occasion to formally introduce the PNP candidates for St Elizabeth: incumbents Richard Parchment, St Elizabeth South Eastern; Hugh Buchanan, St Elizabeth South Western; Evon Redman, who has replaced outgoing Member of Parliament Raymond Pryce as the party’s standard bearer for St Elizabeth North Eastern; and former West Indies cricketer Daren Powell, who is challenging the only JLP incumbent, JC Hutchinson, in St Elizabeth North Western.