Leaders of the People's National Party as well as the Jamaica Labour Party led by example when they signed a peace accord ahead of the national elections. Both leaders asked for the cooperation of their supporters.

Published Saturday, August 27, 1988

JLP, PNP sign peace accord

Historic code of conduct to govern upcoming election campaign

AN UNPRECEDENTED AND HISTORIC AGREEMENT and declaration on political conduct, a prelude to peaceful elections, was signed between the two major political parties at King’s House yesterday.

Another significant event was the swearing in of retired Appeal Court Judge Mr Justice James Kerr, as Senior Ombudsman, whose responsibility will be to monitor the Code of Political Conduct.

“It is a historic occasion and is the first time since Universal Adult Suffrage that we have found it necessary to sign a peace accord between the Jamaica Labour Party and the People’s National Party, Governor General Sir Florizel Glasspole stated at 11 a.m. when the function attended by more than 300 people, including political candidates and officers of the two major parties, began in the King’s House ballroom.

To the strains of ‘Jesu Joy of Man’s Desire’ played by the Jamaican Military Band, the document was signed by Prime Minister and leader of the JLP Edward Seaga and PNP leader Michael Manley.

Official witnesses to the signing were the Hon Bruce Golding, JLP chairman; Mr P.J. Patterson, PNP chairman; the Hon Ryan Peralto, JLP general secretary, and Dr Paul Robertson, PNP general secretary. Also seated on the platform was Lady Bustamante, wife of National Hero Sir Alexander Bustamante.

Before the signing, however, Mr Justice Kerr took the Oaths of Allegiance and Office. Dressed in a brown three-piece suit, Mr Justice Kerr in his reply said that his appointment was "unprecedented and unexpected”, but noted that lack of precedent should not prevent steps from being taken to make a free election possible.

“The signing of the peace accord is the beginning of an entirely new concept in Jamaican politics", Mr Kerr said. He expressed the hope that the bipartisan committee would do its best to see that he had little to do.

“If we succeed, then elections will be seen as competitions for office as intended by the framers of the constitution and not a conflict between hostile camps." Mr Kerr will not take office before October 1.

Prime Minister Seaga told the gathering at King's House that a tribunal to monitor the elections will be in place to carry on the functions until Mr Kerr takes office.

The peace agreement signing came after months of appeal from various sectors of the society for moves to be taken by both parties to prevent a recurrence of the political violence as occurred in the election year of 1980, which left some 800 persons dead.

“Election contests have been very vigorous and at times very bitter too. It has gone sometimes beyond the boundaries of sheer vigour. If elections are to be carried out it should be done in an atmosphere of freedom from fear and everyone must be allowed to go to the polling station and poll his or her vote without any fear of victimization,” the governor general said.

“Sheer common sense has dictated the actions of the leaders of both political parties and their supporters which has led to this decision to sign the peace accord,” he said.

He congratulated both the parties and the leaders for their decision.

He warned, “This is not the end of all the troubles. If all categories of leaders from the front to the grassroots levels do not accept the philosophy of this peace accord this exercise will be a waste of time. It is my fervent hope that we will see a free and fair election when the time comes and that we shall see terms of the peace accord upheld.”

The joint agreement and declaration of political conduct were read by the newly sworn-in senior ombudsman, the Hon Justice James Kerr.

In the accord, texts of which were available to members of the audience, both parties agreed to, among other things, “denounce the procurement, possession or distribution of weapons or ammunition of any sort by their members or supporters for use in political activity” and reject “any action by their members or supporters of the other party”.

PNP leader Michael Manley, dressed in a dark three-piece suit and lavender striped tie, declared that “once again the governor general has acted as a symbol of national unity”.

“Our party is sincerely committed to make it work,” he said, and called on all the members and supporters of the party “in every corner of Jamaica to work to honour the letter and spirit of the agreement”.

“Obviously, you cannot command immediate changes in habits and behaviour overnight or merely by an act of coming together.”

He expressed confidence in the peace accord, which he said has “real meaning”. He said that he and Mr Seaga had a shared perspective about taking the message of peace to leaders at the parish and community levels. “We may well find that in spite of the best intention there may be people who, acting from ancient habit, may do things that cause difficulty. I think that what is really important is that we are realistic about this … when there are problems don’t panic, don’t overreact,” Mr Manley said. He guaranteed that if there was a problem there would be “instant action” to set the matter straight.

“Let us dedicate this agreement to Jamaica,” Mr Manley said.

In his address, Mr Seaga stated that the most important factor would be the calibre of the candidates who are selected to run in the elections. “The type of person who can be expected to observe good conduct because good conduct at the level of the candidate spreads down to the level and type of conduct among all,” he said.

“It can be expected that the two leaders can play an effective role in dealing with breaches that are important.”

He stressed the importance of the media in reporting accurately incidences and the security forces to whom he appealed to “exercise their jurisdiction and authority in an impartial manner”.

After the signing, both leaders shook hands and received red roses from members of their parties.

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