Letter to Dr Kevin Blake, Commissioner of Police, from The PNP’s General Secretary Dr Dayton Campbell regarding concerns of intimidation and vote buying.

21 November 2024

Dr. Kevin Blake,

Commissioner of Police

Office of the Commissioner

101-103 Old Hope Road

Kingston 6

Dear Commissioner Blake,

The People’s National Party is urging the police high command to ensure that the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) operates with fairness and professionalism in addressing intimidation and vote-buying concerns during the final campaign period, including By-Election Day Friday, November 22, 2024.

We received a report of thugs in the Lyssons area this morning tearing down orange flags and firing shots.  We have also been alerted to plans by certain individuals to engage in vote-buying activities in both the Aenon Town and Morant Bay Divisions. Intimidation and vote buying serve to undermine the integrity of our electoral system. We recognise the critical role that law enforcement plays in preserving the sanctity of the electoral process and, therefore, call upon your office to ensure that officers, especially those from the Protective Services Division (PSD) deployed during this time, are vigilant in identifying and addressing these breaches.

It is imperative that JCF officers be reminded of their professional duty to remain impartial and uphold the law. Turning a blind eye to such offences not only compromises the credibility of the elections but also erodes public trust in law enforcement.

We demand that the necessary measures be taken to alert and sensitise all officers to these threats. The People’s National Party stands ready to support any initiative aimed at safeguarding the democratic rights of the Jamaican people.

Yours sincerely,

Dayton Campbell

General Secretary

People’s National Party

c.c. Deputy Commissioner of Police Richard Stewart

Deputy Commissioner of Police Clifford Blake