Ban Political Motorcades In Jamaica

Political motorcades have long been a fixture with the Jamaican political landscape. It has been a campaign tactic that in the past was used to intimidate many voters for the other party especially in communities that were as one would say up for grabs. VP of the People's National Party (PNP), Dr. Peter Phillips has now come out publicly to support any decision by the security forces to BAN political motorcades. This move is unprecedented by any other PNP supporter and one must wonder if Phillips is not still aspiring for Prime Minister Ship. But the move in the opinion of most will be counter productive. It’s not motorcades that are violent in nature but the people who are whipped up into frenzy by the candidates that they are supporting. Better to say “BAN POLITIANS”. Well if this was not bad enough Jamaica is just not ready for a new method of politics right now. Minister Phillips noted that the banning of motorcades had happened before in the past, and made it clear that responsibility for deciding what would and would not be permitted was in the hands of the commissioner of police Lucius Thomas and that he would have no interference or influence on any decision taken by the top cop. Already there have been reports of violence on Jamaican political motorcades. With the campaign between the two main Jamaican political parties - the governing Peoples National Party and the existing Opposition Jamaica Labor Party - intensifies as the Jamaican general elections in 2007 come closer. Reports of violence have already been associated with Jamaican political motorcades in 2007. Constant violations of the Jamaican Road Traffic Regulations, with Jamaican political party supporters overcrowding minibuses and other motor vehicles, with some passengers hanging from doors, windows sitting on top of these motor vehicles. Jamaican government Senator Professor Trevor Munroe, lecturer at one of Jamaican schools the University Of The West Indies last week commented in the Senate wanted the banning of all Jamaican political campaign motorcades after the date of the election is announced. We believe that despite a candidate’s political affiliation, during motorcades, the Jamaican law must be upheld. Former Jamaican Police Commissioner Francis Forbes, during the run-up to the last Jamaican general election in October 2002, banned political motorcades in six violence-plagued constituencies on the recommendation of the Jamaican Electoral Advisory Committee at that time.