PORT MARIA, ST MARY — Member of Parliament (MP) for St Mary South Eastern Dr Norman Dunn has denied that his supporters are behind last Saturday’s vandalism of a vehicle being used in the campaign of Christopher Brown, who has his sights set on taking the seat for the People’s National Party (PNP) when Jamaicans vote.

“Rubbish. This is the first I am hearing about this. Is it a case of false flag as prelude to what they intend to do? Calling ‘Wolf! Wolf!’ I have told my supporters that is not my modus operandi, so we are not into that!” Dunn said when contacted by the Jamaica Observer.

“I am flabbergasted. He is weak and has realised that south-east is not what he thought. South-east is a Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) seat, and it will remain so,” the confident MP stated as he accused Brown of creating an unnecessary distraction.

“I want a good campaign as we choose Jamaica and will take home the seat,” Dunn said.

‘Choose Jamaica’ is the JLP’s campaign slogan, while ‘Time Come’ is used by the PNP.

In a media release on Sunday, Brown said a day earlier there had been a “deliberate, targeted act of intimidation against a key member of my team and a direct assault on the peaceful democratic campaign we are striving to run”.

He said a stone had been used to damage his campaign vehicle and he had reported the incident to the police.

The damage to the vehicle is estimated at $53,000.

According to Brown, Saturday’s attack was the latest in a string of worrying incidents.

“Over the past several weeks we have witnessed a deeply troubling and dangerous escalation in confrontational and violent rhetoric and actions emanating from supporters associated with my opponent, MP Dr Norman Dunn. The political atmosphere in South East St Mary has been deliberately poisoned by a campaign of division and aggression,” Brown said in the media release.

“Therefore, I publicly call upon Dr Norman Dunn today: Cease and desist immediately! Stop the politics of confrontation. Stop the rhetoric that incites your supporters. Stop the seeping tide of violence and intimidation that your campaign has allowed to fester. Your silence in the face of this growing toxicity is complicity. Your duty as the sitting Member of Parliament is to uphold the peace and sanctity of our democratic traditions, not to preside over their erosion through fear,” added Brown, who also urged the police to act.

“We demand an immediate, thorough, and swift investigation. I call directly upon Superintendent [of police in charge of the parish Anthony] Wallace to assign urgent priority to this matter. Those responsible for this act of terror and intimidation must be identified and brought to justice without delay. This attack strikes not only at property but at the heart of our democracy, where citizens should be free to participate in the political process without fear,” said Brown.

Superintendent Wallace later told the Observer that his team will do everything in their power to ensure a safe and secure environment for all candidates.

“We will continue to collaborate with the candidates and other stakeholders to ensure good sense prevaild and we are confident our strategies are working,” said Superintendent Wallace.

The damaged campaign vehicle of the PNP’s Christopher Brown in St Mary South Eastern.