At least four election-related deaths in lead-up to 2011 poll

Edmond Campbell, Senior Staff Reporter

At least four persons were killed and several others injured as a direct result of political conflict in the lead-up to the 2011 general election, while claims by one candidate that she was shot at have been proved to be incorrect.

That's according to the just-released report card on incidents of political violence in the run-up to the election in which the People's National Party (PNP) won the majority of seats.

According to the report from the Office of the Political Ombudsman, despite some improvements, the country is still struggling to purge itself from the bloody stain of the past, unleashed by the foot soldiers of politics tribes.

Political violence is not new to Jamaica, with more than 800 people being killed in the tumultuous and divisive general election of 1980.

Fast-forward to the 21st century and the national polls held little more than two years ago. The Office of the Political Ombudsman, through liaison police officers, recorded a litany of violent acts which were believed to be politically motivated.

Reports were also made on flagrant breaches of the political code of conduct to which the two major political parties are signatories.

In the 2012 annual report of the now-retired Political Ombudsman Bishop Herro Blair, the liaison officers reported many incidents of political violence, in some cases resulting in fatalities.

In what had been described as a "political war", the police reported that: "One Troy Malcolm, age 30 years old of Market Street, Spanish Town, St Catherine, was shot and killed at the intersection of Manchester and Old Market streets by three men on foot. The deceased was seen removing Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) flags."

The report stated that "someone was charged for the murder" but the identity of the person is not known and no additional detail had been provided.

REPRISAL KILLING

On the same day, another violent incident occurred which the police described as a reprisal for Malcolm's killing.

"Dewar Thomas, 45, higgler of 15 Manchester Street, Spanish Town, was at his van, where he sold dry goods at the intersection of Manchester and French streets, when five men on foot armed with rifles and handguns approached him. He ran but was chased and fatally shot."

It is not known if anyone has been arrested for the reprisal killing.

Another incident linked to politics took place on December 15, 2011.

According to the annual report of the Political Ombudsman, "Sheldon Simpson, age 30 years old, who was driving a Toyota Corolla motor [car] plastered with JLP posters, was shot in the head. He later died at the Spanish Town Hospital."

It has not been determined if an arrest was made, but it was stated that the Major Investigation Task Force was investigating.

In Portland, a life was cut short days before the election, when Omar Hernandez, a 32-year-old labourer, was erecting JLP flags on privately owned premises in Charles Town, Buff Bay.

The police report that Hernandez was engaged in "an altercation with one Germain Riley. Hernandez hit Riley on the head and ran. Riley chased him and stabbed him in the neck. He died on the spot". The police reported that Riley was charged for the murder.

The police also documented a strange twist to a reported incident by a JLP caretaker days before the polls. As contained in the 2012 annual report of the political ombudsman, "Between 11 p.m. and midnight (on December 19, 2011) during a party hosted by Joan Gordon-Webley for her Bull Bay supporters opposite Little Copa, shots were fired. However, no damage or injuries resulted. The reports are that after the shots were fired, Gordon-Webley called police control to say she was shot at.

"However, during a police investi-gation, it was ascertained that two of Gordon-Webley's supporters were fighting over spoils, when one drew a gun and fired shots in the air. Two 9mm spent shells were found at the scene. 'This incident died a natural death,' said the police investigator."

Scores of other incidents involving breaches of the political code of conduct and election violence were reported with many still unsolved.