Residents and the police hail peaceful election atmosphere in St James

WESTERN BUREAU:

Halfway through the day’s proceedings, it was the general view across St. James – which has several politically volatile communities – that so far, today's election has been the most peaceful and non-contentious they have seen in recent memory.

“Jamaica has really matured in our political process, and it makes us look so good,” said Maxine Bent, a US-based Jamaican, who said that she flew into the island specifically to vote for the Jamaica Labour Party’s (JLP) St James Northwest candidate, Dr Horace Chang.

“It is so nice to see ‘Labourites’ and Comrades hugging up and dancing in the streets to that lovely PNP (People’s National Party) song, ' Blood and Fire comrades…. it’s a lovely song.”

Unlike former years, which would normally see tensions flare across several communities like Flankers, Glendevon and Salt Spring, where bantering and exchange of harsh words was the norm, today supporters of the two parties were seen laughing and joking against a backdrop of peace and tranquillity.

“We have been like sisters for many, many years as while she is a ‘Labourite’ and I am a PNP, we are not going to make politics get between us,” said Chairman Smith, as she hugged Beverley Brown outside the polling station at the Glendevon Primary and Junior High School, in St. James Northwest. “At the end of the day we are one Jamaica, I will be sad if my party is voted out but regardless of the outcome, we should all be working together to build a better Jamaica.”

The police were also quite pleased with the general mood in the parish, saying there were no incidents of note, even as they urged residents to continue to play their part in keeping the peace.

“We have started working before 4 o’clock this morning and the polling stations have all been covered. So far, voting is going smoothly…. Voting started very well, and as we speak, we have had no reports of any major incidents in the parish so far,” said Superintendent Peter Salkey.Salkey, the territorial officer and zone three commander for the St. James police division, has special responsibility for the St. James Northwest constituency in today’s election. “The police, the military and polling station assistant security are out and vigilant, ensuring the voters stay within the ambit of the law and things are going very well.”

While Salkey is keeping his fingers crossed that things will remain peaceful for the remainder of the day, he nonetheless used the opportunity to urge residents not to spoil what has been a very good day so far.

“I want to urge the residents across the parish to keep it this way so that persons can exercise their franchise freely and nobody messes with them, and in so doing, we have the process going smoothly. Work with us as members of the security forces and ensure we continue to keep law and order intact,” he said.

St. James, which features five constituencies, is currently controlled by the JLP, which won all five seats in 2020. However, after making reasonable inroads in the 2020 Local Government elections, the PNP is hoping to swing the balance of power as the party seeks to form the next government of Jamaica.

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