MANCHESTER, Jamaica — Minister of Justice Delroy Chuck is urging  candidates to “play it clean” during their campaigns as Jamaicans prepare to vote in the local government elections on February 26.

Nomination day will be Thursday, February 8.

“This week is the start of another silly season. We call it political silly season. Politicians disagree and it’s right for them to disagree, and out of the disagreement better can emerge. That is the process of democracy,” Chuck said during his address at the church service to mark the start of Restorative Justice Week in Mandeville on Sunday.

“Democracy is not about everybody agreeing. Democracy is about agreeing to disagree, because out of disagreement the best can emerge, but we must disagree with civility… with decency without using abuses and violence to resolve the disagreement,” said Chuck.

“I extend to Jamaicans please work out your disagreements, don’t get into conflicts, but if you do we will help you with restorative justice,” he added.

The justice minister noted that Jamaica’s Parliament, unlike some countries, does not have physical altercations.

“You can see how we disagree in Parliament. Sometimes too indisciplined, but unlike some parliaments I dare say, we don’t fight,” he said, voking laughter from his audience at the New Beulah Moravian Church.

“If you watch the news you will see in many parliaments across the world they fight, but I beg in the start of the local government election the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition have admonished all candidates to play it clean, no need to be abusive to your opponent. No reason to engage in any form of destructive behaviour and at the end of the day may the best person win in each division,” Chuck said.

He also pointed to his efforts of welcoming his opponent in each parliamentary election in his constituency of St Andrew North Eastern.

“I could tell you that in my area I encourage my opponent to visit everywhere,” said Chuck.

— Kasey Williams