PNP candidates file court challenge of decision to remove campaign posters in St James

Three prospective People's National Party (PNP) candidates in St James have filed a claim in the Supreme Court seeking judicial review of the St James Municipal Corporation's decision to remove their campaign posters in the parish.

The candidates, Andre Haughton, Janice Allen and Allan Bernard, filed the court action on Tuesday, with the municipal corporation named as the respondent.

In addition to judicial review of the decision, they are asking the court to quash the decision of the corporation to remove their advertising boards.

They also want a review of the motion passed by the finance committee of the municipal corporation on April 9, 2025 prohibiting the display of advertising pending an announcement of elections; an order barring the corporation from interfering in the applicants' political advertising; and an order compelling the corporation to return, restore and reinstate their advertising.

The three are also seeking general and aggravated damages.

There has been mounting tension between Mayor of Montego Bay Richard Vernon and the Opposition PNP over the removal of posters for its candidates.

Vernon had announced in early April that the corporation would ban the placement of political signage in St James ahead of any announcement of an official date for the impending general election.

However, the Opposition party has argued that the country is within the campaign period. The party also cited provisions in the Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertising) Regulations, wherein advertising relating specifically to an independent parliamentary or local election may be undertaken without the express consent of the municipal authority.

In their court filing, the candidates say "It would create an absurdity not to accept this period as the period for which a parliamentary election shall become pending as advertisements are a natural part of a parliamentary campaign and form part of which a financial obligation to report would flow."

The Office of the Political Ombudsman has asked Vernon for a written explanation outlining the basis on which the campaign posters have been removed by the St James Municipal Corporation.

In a letter signed by Chairman of the Electoral Commission of Jamaica (ECJ) Earl Jarrett, whose office assumed the role in 2024, Vernon was asked to do so by May 6, following a complaint file by the PNP.

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