Clarke THE PRIVATE Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ) Council of Presidents condemns the increased violence, including shooting and stone and bottle throwing in Corporate Area and St. Catherine constituencies since Nomination Day.
The PSOJ Council of Presidents endorses the recent calls by Prime Minister P.J. Patterson and Opposition Leader Edward Seaga for their supporters not to engage in political violence and the joint statement calling for peace issued on the weekend by the PNP/JLP leadership in Clarendon. We encourage all political candidates to recommit themselves to the Political Code of Conduct, disciplining supporters who are responsible for acts of violence. We support joint visits by candidates to problem areas to send a clear message of co-operation and to help to reduce increasing tensions, and we encourage the security forces to continue helping to control and defuse tense situations.
We ask the people of Jamaica to send a clear signal. Any party that engages in violence must not be voted for. PSOJ President Oliver Clarke notes that the incidence of crime/violence or corruption associated with individual parties will have a great effect on swing voters. "Jamaicans want a new style of clean, crime-free politics, and there are many voters out there just waiting to jump one way or another if the politics gets dirty," Clarke continued.
There are many positives associated with this election campaign: the best preparation for a general election in the history of this country; the most comprehensive Code of Political Conduct agreed by major parties, incredible media interest, a strong and active Political Ombudsman and strong media and civic society demands for a peaceful election. Let us not mar these impressive positives with the old style of warring politics, which is threatening to rear its head.
The PSOJ wishes to remind the public to call Crime Stop on 1-888-991-4000 with information on crime and acts of violence associated with the upcoming elections.
