PNP warns Vernon against removing its political banners

WESTERN BUREAU:

Kerry Thomas, the People’s National Party (PNP) councillor for the Mount Salem division in the St James Municipal Corporation, is warning Montego Bay Mayor Richard Vernon against carrying out a threat to remove political banners mounted in public spaces across the parish.

Speaking at the PNP’s Montego Bay Central Divisional Conference on Sunday, Thomas warned Vernon of potential consequences if he follows through on his statements about imposing hefty penalties for the continued display of what the mayor claimed were unauthorised political banners.

“If you touch the PNP banners, I know what will happen. Even without any of us saying anything, a PNP supporter will touch a JLP (Jamaica Labour Party) banner, and that will create an environment we don’t want in this parish,” said Thomas.

“We do not want that type of environment here. As the EOJ (Electoral Office of Jamaica) says, elections should be free and fair, allowing every candidate the right to campaign, however and whenever they choose [within the law], because this is a democratic country,” added Thomas.

CONTRARY TO THE LAW

The councillor’s position mirrors a statement by the PNP General Secretary Dr Dayton Campbell, who recently said the Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertising) Regulations provide that advertising relating specifically to an independent parliamentary or local election may be undertaken without the express consent of the municipal authority, which would make any removal action of banners or posters by Vernon contrary to the law.

In a Gleaner interview last week, Vernon called on electoral candidates to remove all political campaign materials from the streets of St James by the end of that week, intimating that the municipal body would remove them this week if the directive were ignored. He said those responsible for them would also be fined.

In rebuking Vernon, Thomas argued that such actions would fall under the purview of the political ombudsman, whose roles and authority are now integrated into the Electoral Commission of Jamaica (ECJ).

The matter came to the fore when Arthur Lynch, the JLP councillor for the Montego Bay South East division, called on Senator Janice Allen, the PNP candidate for St James Central, to remove election paraphernalia posted in his division.

“You are not supposed to be putting up any political paraphernalia unless you are a candidate, and, as we stand right now, you are not a candidate of St James Central,” declared Lynch, who was speaking at a JLP campaign event. “Tek dem dung! Gwan go tek dem dung!”

According to Campbell, it is an established practice, supported by law, that during the lead-up to an election, political parties are allowed to erect posters and signs advertising their candidates. He said this practice has always proceeded without incident, even during the 2024 local government elections. He called on the ECJ to make a clear and urgent ruling on the matter.

albert.ferguson@gleanerjm.com