St. James authorities remove 'Free Palestine' posters ahead of CARICOM summit

 

The St. James Municipal Corporation has removed several illegally placed 'Free Palestine' posters that were erected across Montego Bay ahead of the 49th CARICOM Heads of Government meeting scheduled for next week. 

 

The signs, which were erected near Sangster International Airport, were also taken down by municipal police on Friday morning following concerns that they could spark controversy during the high-level regional talks. 

 

Mayor of Montego Bay Richard Vernon has issued a stern warning to individuals and groups behind the posters, declaring that unauthorised signage or protest materials will not be allowed in public spaces.

 

"Now these signs, none of them fall within the requisite area of the law that would permit persons to come and freely place them on these streets. Therefore, they are in breach. The local authority needs no directive, needs no resolution, needs no motion to have these signs removed because we are a creature of statute, and automatically once there is a breach, the team from the Commercial Services Department will be activated to naturally carry out the law...to remove these signs." 

 

The mayor urged those responsible to "cease and desist from posting the signs within the area or wherever in Montego Bay," adding: "If you want to post signs, seek permission from the corporation." 

 

Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness is the new chair of CARICOM and will preside over the conference scheduled for July 6-8 at the Montego Bay Convention Centre in Rose Hall.