A $3-million bounty has been posted by the ruling Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) for information leading to the arrest of the individuals involved in the abduction of one of its workers on May 30.

Lorna Robertson, a JLP scrutineer in the St Andrew South Eastern constituency, was kidnapped as she walked along Old Hope Road, across from Diabetes Association of Jamaica clinic, in St Andrew.

Closed circuit television footage shows Robertson, popularly known as Nikki, being pulled by a man into a black Honda Stepwagon.

Robertson has not been seen since and her family has offered a $500,000 reward for her safe return.

Last Friday, JLP leader and Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness announced the $3-million reward, saying that the authorities will not rest until the perpetrators are caught.

Addressing an appreciation ceremony for the party’s workers in St Andrew West Rural, Holness said the decision to post the bounty was taken in consultation with the JLP’s chairman and deputy leader for that area.

“…Having discussed the very tragic circumstances under which one of our workers was abducted in South East St Andrew… we take very close note of it and I’m very hopeful that the police will eventually find a lead, because such a crime should not go unsolved,” Holness told his audience.

“We have decided that we will put up a reward of $3 million for information leading to the arrest of those persons who abducted our worker. We find it a very troubling occurrence and we do not intend to stop until we find out who are the people behind it, whoever they are connected to,” he said.

Police have since reported that they found the vehicle two weeks ago and that the licence plates were fake. They also said they have collected samples from the vehicle for DNA testing and have questioned several people in connection with the crime.

On June 8, St Andrew South Eastern Member of Parliament Julian Robinson rejected attempts being made on social media to link the abduction to politics.

“They’re trying to insinuate and suggest that it is politics that is behind it. I knew Nikki very well, and I won’t go into all the things but I had a close relationship with her,” Robinson said at the People’s National Party’s (PNP) annual Trafalgar divisional meeting held at Gaynstead High School.

“I hope that she will be returned safely because the reality is, in Swallowfield, Labourite and PNP get along very well without any hostility, without any argument. Even though people have their own preferences, that is how we have existed within Swallowfield,” he said.

“The people know me — my name can’t call in certain things because I lead and I represent with integrity — so I don’t want any man suggest that PNP is dealing with those things, because the PNP no deal with that in this constituency,” he said.

“Nikki had friends, probably more friends who are supporters of the People’s National Party than those from the Labour Party. Nikki moved through the entire community and interacted with everybody and nobody never had no problem with Nikki. So I don’t know why somebody is going to try to inject politics into it now,” he said.

“The Friday that she was abducted, I went to her house the same day. I’ve spoken to her daughter and I hope that she will be returned,” Robinson stressed.

Jamaica Labour Party Leader Dr Andrew Holness is having an animated discussion with these two youngsters at party workers appreciation ceremony last Friday.