KINGSTON, Jamaica — Mounting political tension in the St Thomas Eastern constituency escalated on Saturday when People’s National Party (PNP) activist Jairzenho Bailey clashed with residents of the Duckenfield community over the removal of PNP campaign material.

The incident comes in the wake of videos circulating online showing individuals removing and vandalising posters of PNP aspirant Yvonne Rose-Marie Shaw, as well as tearing down orange cloths throughout the community.

READ: Tension rise as PNP campaign material is removed in St Thomas Eastern

In the latest development, Bailey, a former Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) caretaker for St Thomas Eastern until he resigned in 2011 and switched to the PNP, was caught on video confronting several individuals over the vandalised campaign material.

The footage shows Bailey approaching a man off-camera before he is intercepted by one of his fellow campaigners. The off-camera man can then be heard accusing Bailey of inciting violence, stating, “A wah do yuh? Yah come create violence. A wah do yuh?”

He continues, “Mi seh the man dem lick dem down already…”

Bailey, who contested the 2012 Local Government elections for the Dalvey Division in St Thomas and lost, then walks to a nearby vehicle, retrieves a small object which is not clearly seen in the video, and approaches the man again. At that point, several orange-clad PNP supporters quickly intervene, forming a barrier around Bailey in an attempt to cool tensions.

Just last week, the Political Ombudsman urged political leaders and their supporters to exercise sound judgment, responsible conduct and adherence to the principles of peaceful political engagement during the election campaign.