NEGRIL, Westmoreland — Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Deputy Leader Desmond McKenzie has condemned the vandalis
m of two signs belonging to Dr Garfield James, the party’s standard-bearer for Westmoreland Western.

During a tour of the area Wednesday, McKenzie was shown two defaced billboards: one at the entrance to the recently established constituency office on Nonpareil Road in Negril and the other in Grange Hill. The signs were splattered with blue paint that obscured significant sections of the message.

The JLP deputy leader suggested that the incident could be a coordinated attempt to distract supporters.

“It is frightening. And if I am to believe the soundings that I’m hearing on the ground, it seems to be a part of an orchestrated attempt by those who feel threatened by the presence of the Jamaica Labour Party in this constituency,” McKenzie stated.

However, he made it clear that the JLP will not be deterred. He said the incident has reinforced the people’s commitment to the party.

“Our supporters are energised to continue what we started in 2020, with real representation for the people of Western Westmoreland. This kind of politics is behind us and it is something I want to condemn on behalf of the Jamaica Labour Party and to say to our supporters, ‘Be calm. Be calm. Be patient because this can’t and will never stop a third term for Dr [Andrew] Holness and our new chairman of Western Westmoreland,’” he said.

“It is important that the country understands that this is about performance. This is not about fear. There are persons who have been reporting that they have been threatened because they have found favour with the Jamaica Labour Party. And we’re going to push back at any such action by anybody to threaten or to intimidate Labour Party supporters; not here in Westmoreland, but anywhere else across Jamaica!”

For his part, James, the constituency chairman, said his supporters are upset about what took place.

“It’s really a situation where all supporters of the Jamaica Labour Party within the constituency at this moment are disgruntled, angry, and really upset about the actions that have led to the defacing of this particular sign here at the Nonpareil Office for the constituency,” he said.

“It is unfortunate that we are seeing actions that are leading back to the past that we are so happy we left behind us. I’m using this medium to ask my political opponents to desist from doing such. It is not looking good for democracy. It has no place in today’s Jamaica and we will not tolerate it,” added James who noted that steps will be taken to identify those responsible for defacing the signs.

He said politics requires hard work and representation where the people’s democracy is respected.

“This, in a sense, is a sad day in the process of campaigning here in the parish,” said James, who is principal of Little London High School.

The incidents in Westmoreland came days following a Supreme Court ruling which granted an induction barring the removal of political billboards in St James. The court action was brought against the St James Municipal Corporation by three prospective PNP candidates.

In the 2020 General Election, Westmoreland Western was won by sitting JLP Member of Parliament Morland Wilson, the third person to win the seat for that party.

The JLP won all 16 seats in five parishes within JLP Area Council Four, which makes up Western Jamaica.