KINGSTON, Jamaica— The People’s National Party (PNP) has postponed its Kingston and St Andrew Parish meeting set for Cross Roads on Sunday, which overlapped with a Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) meeting set for Half Way Tree, following safety concerns.

“The People’s National Party (PNP) has always placed the interests of the Jamaican people above partisan politics. Our commitment to peace, order, and national stability remains unwavering, especially at this critical juncture,” the party said in a release Friday amid public concern over the viability of the two meetings being held metres apart.

The PNP, while maintaining it had secured all permits for the August 10 meeting well in advance of the date, said it was postponing the meeting to avoid “unnecessary overlap”.

The party said that as part of its national mobilisation campaign, it has been hosting a series of parish meetings across the island.

The final leg of this campaign was scheduled for Sunday, August 10, in Kingston and St Andrew, following a bus tour on Saturday, August 9.

“The party secured all necessary permits well in advance for the staging of this final parish meeting in Cross Roads,” the party said. “However, the prime minister’s belated decision to schedule a political event in Half-Way Tree on the same day creates an unnecessary overlap that risks placing supporters of both parties in close proximity.

“In the interest of public safety and to avoid any strain on the Jamaica Constabulary Force, the PNP has made the responsible decision to reschedule the KSA Parish Meeting. New details will be announced shortly,” the party stated.

The postponement comes after several groups shared concerns about the two main political parties and their supporters showing up in force in the Corporate Area within close proximity of each other.

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“Public safety must never be sacrificed for political theatre,” said General Secretary of the PNP Dr Dayton Campbell.

“We refuse to contribute to any avoidable conflict or allow the Prime Minister to use a manufactured clash as an excuse to further delay the calling of elections. Jamaica deserves better,” he said.