PNP says shooting incident in Kingston Central was not politically motivated

The People’s National Party (PNP) says it has "credible intelligence" that the incident in which Member of Parliament for Kingston Central Donovan Williams and members of his campaign team reportedly came under gunfire arose from ongoing gang conflict within the community, rather than political targeting.

In a release to the media on Wednesday evening, the PNP said it is relieved that no one was injured and stated that violence of any kind has no place in national life, especially during a period of political activity.

PNP General Secretary Dr Dayton Campbell stated: “We reject any attempt to falsely frame this incident as a politically targeted attack. Based on credible intelligence, this was an eruption of ongoing gang-related violence. We call on the authorities to act swiftly to restore calm, ensure justice, and provide the affected communities with real interventions.”

He said the PNP remains fully committed to the conduct of a free, fair, and safe election.

"All Jamaicans deserve the right to participate in the democratic process without fear or intimidation," he said.

Campbell added that the party added continues to call for greater investment in long-term strategies to address violence in inner-city communities. "Restoring order and security requires coordinated action from law enforcement, social agencies, and community leaders," he stated.

“We must stop playing politics with people’s lives,” Campbell continued. “This country needs leadership that will face the truth and fix the problems, not spin narratives for headlines.”

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