Chuck appeals for violence-free election campaign

By Racquel Porter    

 

Minister of Justice Delroy Chuck is appealing for a violence-free election.

 

With the general parliamentary election due by September, Jamaicans have been on 'election alert' since last year.

 

Mr. Chuck is imploring supporters of Jamaica's two major political parties not to be triggered by heated rhetoric in Parliament and on the campaign trail. 

 

"When you see us in Parliament, we brush shoulders with one another. It's only when we get inside we start abusing one another verbally. But fortunately, in this country, we don't start fighting. In many parliaments, they throws chairs at one another, so we're not doing too bad. But we must still sent a message that when we argue with one another, we're not fighting, and we don't expect our supporters to fight the enemy. This year is an election year and I want it to be the most peaceful election ever," he pleaded. 

  

Mr. Chuck was speaking at the Custos of Manchester New Year Church Service on Sunday.

 

He also called for families and communities to strive for peace. 

 

"Unless we have peace within ourselves, within our homes, within our neighbourhoods, at the workplace, in the schools, in the churches, and in the parishes, we're not going to have peace in Jamaica. The truth is that peace comes right across the environment. And as we speak of peace, we must let it emerge from ourselves, from our homes, from our bedroom, from our homes," said the minister who lamented the many cases of domestic violence in the country.