The Opposition Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) wants Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller and Minister of National Security Peter Bunting to condemn what it is labelling reported threats against founder of the Mustard Seed Communities Monsignor Gregory Ramkissoon.

The JLP also wants the administration to ensure that the police put measures in place to protect Ramkissoon, who reported receiving menacing calls days after he criticised the Government over its delay in commenting on the shooting death of Kay-Ann Lamont, allegedly by police Corporal Dwayne Smart in St Thomas, and the eviction of several families from premises they occupied along Duke Street in Kingston.

Ramkissoon had made his comments in an article published in The Gleaner last Thursday.

In condemning the 'threat', JLP Leader Andrew Holness described it as "un-Jamaican" and said the country was "fast departing from the path of righteousness".

Holness, who was addressing the St Ann's Bay Pentecostal Church yesterday, exhorted the local clergy "not to be afraid to stand against what is wrong".

In addition to Holness' comments, the JLP's national security spokesman, Delroy Chuck, expressed shock at the reported threats, arguing that they brought the country to a new low.

According to Chuck, it is "reflective of a hostile environment where the Government and its supporters are very sensitive to even the slightest criticism".

He said: "Each and every individual has a right to freedom of speech and should not be threatened into silence for publicly speaking on the many wrongs in our society, whether it affects the Government, the Opposition or any other group or persons."