PNP calls for swift police probe into shooting incident in Kingston Central

 

The People's National Party is calling for a swift police investigation into the shooting incident in Kingston Central, where Member of Parliament Donovan Williams and members of his campaign team came under fire. 

 

The PNP has condemned the incident. 

 

The parliamentary opposition says it is relieved that no one was injured and affirms that violence of any kind has no place in national life, especially during a period of political activity. 

 

PNP General Secretary Dr. Dayton Campbell says information reaching the party is that the incident arose from ongoing gang conflict within the community rather than political targeting.

 

"Our own sounding by speaking to persons within the constituency is that the matter has absolutely nothing to do with politics and that it seems to be a flare up of the rivalry between two gangs that are in the constituency. We would want to caution those who would want to prematurely reach to a conclusion that it is politically motivated. We do have the Jamaica Constabulary Force that has necessary resources to investigate and ascertain what the motives or likely motives are. They have not given any report to suggest that the matter is political and therefore no premature conclusion should be made as such," he asserted. 

 

Dr. Campbell said the police should make a statement about the incident to dispel any likely rumour about the motive. 

 

"We are in a heightened political season. We come in peace. We are absolutely not interested in anything that is untoward, and I said with the billboards that it required leadership, for the two political parties to step up to the fore. I wasn't even trying to blame anyone for starting it. I just said that we needed to curtail it and act in a mature way. And it is the same thing with these incidents. We see an incident took place before where Minister Vaz said that it was political despite the police saying that it was not politically motivated and it's a trend that is developing here with members of the Labour Party," he complained. 

 

Dr. Campbell said the PNP remains fully committed to a free, fair and safe election.