THE governing Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) yesterday called for a full probe into Thursday night’s gun attack which claimed the life of one of its supporters in Port Antonio, Portland.

A party release said 24-year-old Kevin McKenzie and a group of JLP supporters were on their way from a party meeting in Fellowship, Eastern Portland, when they were attacked by armed men. McKenzie, who was clad in his green shirt, succumbed to his injuries. Two other people were shot and injured during the incident.

“This unfortunate incident is consistent with reports of threats that the JLP has been receiving from members conducting campaign activities within the constituency. The “Free School” area appears to be ground zero for aggression being meted out to JLP supporters,” the JLP said.

JLP General Secretary Dr Horace Chang said McKenzie was an active supporter of the party in Eastern Portland – where a by-election is scheduled for April 4 – and urged the Police High Command to conduct a swift and thorough investigation into the murder and shooting injuries.

Dr Chang, the security minister, said he was also troubled by reports emerging from sections of Port Antonio, including the Halls Avenue area where McKenzie came from, that scores of people were being threatened and told to leave the community because of their support for the JLP candidate in the upcoming by-election, Ann Marie Vaz.

“The JLP is urging the police to investigate these reports and provide adequate security arrangements to protect people’s freedom to exercise their democratic right,” said Chang.

At the same time, he told party supporters to remain calm and urged people angered by Thursday night’s incident not to carry out any act “which may be viewed as a retaliation for the brutal murder of Mr McKenzie, who is the relative of a well-known JLP activist in Portland”.

The JLP, said Chang, remains committed to campaign activities which are devoid of violence or intimidation.