Update | Portmore Mayor Leon Thomas not charged, attorney says he's not under investigation

Mayor of Portmore Leon Thomas has not been charged with any crime after an interview with the police on Thursday, his attorney has disclosed.

The interview was requested by the police to get Thomas’ account of what transpired during a brawl between supporters of the two main political parties that brought an abrupt end to a town hall meeting at the headquarters of the Portmore municipality on February 15.

The meeting was a consultation with residents to discuss the move to make Portmore Jamaica’s 15th parish.

“No question was put to Mayor Thomas about any assault. It did not arise; he was merely asked to state his account,” said senior defence attorney, Anthony Williams, who was present during the interview.

The mayor’s account, according to his attorney, was that placard-carrying Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) supporters entered a “smooth, progressive” meeting shouting “shower, shower, shower” and other things.

Shower is a slogan used by the JLP.

Williams said members of the Police High Command were present at the meeting.

“We understand that there was some allegations of assault. We wish to say that Mayor Thomas knows nothing of any such assault, nor did he breach any aspect of Jamaica’s criminal laws,” the attorney said.

He said there is no indication what will happen next “because I don’t know that he is under any investigation”.

Videos from the meeting, which have been circulating on social media, appear to show the Portmore mayor grabbing a yellow placard from a woman.

They also show People’s National Party supporters heckling Alando Terrelonge, Jamaica’s junior foreign minister and the JLP Member of Parliament for St Catherine East Central as he attempted to answer a question posed by a resident during the meeting.

"Shame on you!" a group of PNP supporters shouted at Terrelonge.

Another video shows Terrelonge being held back while shouting “take his phone, take his phone”. It is not clear to whom he was referring.

- Livern Barrett

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