Police reject house torching as political
Published:Friday | March 20, 2009 | 12:38 PM
The police in Portland are rejecting claims that the torching of a house in Buff Bay, Portland was politically motivated.
The house is owned by Peoples National Party (PNP) activist and community leader, Omari Ray.
The incident comes just 3 days before the by-election in the West Portland constituency.
The PNP is insisting that politics was behind the attack as Mr. Ray had previously received death threats.
PNP Deputy General Secretary Julian Robinson said faeces were also thrown at the man’s house last week.
However Commanding Officer for the parish Superintendent Dudley Scott does not believe the incident was politically motivated.
Superintendent Scott said the police will also be seeking to verify whether Mr. Ray had indeed received death threats and whether faeces were thrown at his house.
He said he’s not aware of any reports being made to the police.
Superintendent Scott says joint police/military teams have also been dispatched to strategic locations across the constituency to quell the growing tension among supporters of both major political parties.
More on this story at 5 p.m. from The Gleaner/ Power 106 FM newsroom.