Police make recommendation for political rallies be held in enclosed spaces

The police are recommending that political parties take a different approach to the way public meetings are held.

This follows an incident on Sunday night in which two persons were shot dead and six injured at a Jamaica Labour Party rally in Sam Sharpe Square, Montego Bay, St. James.

 Speaking at an emergency press conference on Monday afternoon, head of the St. James police Senior Superintendent Steve McGregor said it is difficult for the police to monitor gatherings held in open spaces.

“We have always recommended that meetings like these should be kept in enclose areas …..so we can search people coming into the space. “

The police say the two men who were killed during the rally were members of  gangs in the community of Flanker.

Despite the deadly incident, Head of  the Criminal Investigation Branch, Assistant Commissioner Ealan Powell, is seeking to assure the public that the police have not detected any planned violence in the lead up to the February 25 general election.

“We have no information that there is any move afoot to disrupt the election…..as far as politics is concerned we will have a very quite time and there will be very few incidents if any ….I would suggest that even if someone harbours that thought – that thought will never materialize.”

Powell has called for the leadership of  both political parties to work with the police to ensure that the election is free of violence and intimidation.