KINGSTON, Jamaica — The People’s National Party (PNP) is calling on Minister of National Security, Dr Horace Chang to withdraw his statements on Thursday night’s  gun attack, which claimed the life of a Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) supporter in Port Antonio, Portland.

The Opposition party is arguing that Chang’s statement contradicts the official police report and puts the lives of citizens at risk of reprisal.

The JLP, in its statement on the murder, 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.

Dr Chang, the JLP’s general secretary, 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 Portland Eastern by-election, Ann Marie Vaz.

“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.

However, Opposition Spokesman on national security, Fitz Jackson, said: “this reckless and irresponsible statement is dangerous and all well-thinking Jamaicans must let their voices be heard in the effort to maintain the peacefulness of East Portland”.

The PNP further quoted a March 29 police report, which stated: “Preliminary investigation into the shooting death of one man and the injuring of two others at West Street, Port Antonio in Portland on Thursday, March 28, has indicated that the incident is not politically connected.” 

Further information emerging asserts that at least one of those involved was well-known to be in regular conflict with the law and was on a charge of illegal possession of firearm, the PNP said, adding: “The fact is that these men, at least one of whom had an outstanding serious criminal matter, were clad in JLP branded T-shirts and paraphernalia should be of concern to the security minister”.

Jackson, the PNP’s chairman, said the security minister is grossly irresponsible in his comments and is derelict in his sworn duty to ensure the safety of citizens when he openly contradicts the police investigation and politicised the incident by blaming an entire innocent community for a matter that is still under investigation and for which the police preliminary assessment has found no political connection.

Jackson also claimed that the people of the Free School area in East Portland, who have been singled-out in the JLP release as being responsible for the ‘aggression being meted out against the JLP’ are now in fear of reprisal attacks because of the irresponsible partisan statement by Chang.

He said it is unfortunate that this troubling incident is being used by Dr Chang, in his capacity as general secretary of the JLP, to attack an entire community, despite the fact that the police have already reported that their early findings suggest otherwise, that the incident is not political.

The Shadow Minister of National Security is calling on the Police High Command to immediately take steps to increase patrols in the area to protect the residents of the Free School community, and to advise the Security Minister against inciting violence through his belligerent utterances and misrepresentation of the facts surrounding the shooting incident. Minister Chang should be held responsible for any escalation of the ugly incident he falsely labelled political.

“We left behind the politics of fear and intimidation long ago. The people of East Portland deserve better and they must be allowed to enjoy the peaceful lifestyle that they have cultivated over many years, which is reflected in the very low all-around crime statistics for the parish,” Mr Jackson said.

Mr Jackson said he has received reports from several genuine residents of East Portland that persons aligned to the JLP have now taken up residency in sections of East Portland, as part of a deliberate strategy to intimidate voters and compromise the free and fair election process. He said it is incumbent upon the Political Ombudsman to investigate these allegations as the residents are fearful that this is part of a plan for violence to disrupt the democratic process.