‘Come too far to fear’

Following several bomb threats to government buildings in the Corporate Area and in rural areas, members of at least three private sector bodies have called for the security forces to put measures in place to strongly discourage and respond to similar scare tactics on election day.

The private sector groups are also urging the security forces to act swiftly to identify those behind Friday’s actions and ensure the justice system deals with them to the fullest extent of the law.

In the wake of the bomb threats, there have been claims and counterclaims from the two major political parties in relation to the source of and motives for the widespread disruption of government and business activities.

Yesterday members of the security forces and election day workers voted ahead of the September 3 general election.

The Jamaica Manufacturers and Exporters Association, the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce and the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ) stated that the threats might have caused major disruptions to businesses, eroding productivity and creating financial losses for ordinary Jamaicans.

“The right to vote is one of the most powerful tools we have as citizens. Our forefathers sacrificed for us to gain this right. We must honour their legacy by protecting democracy and ensuring that every Jamaican can vote without fear or intimidation,” Metry Seaga, president of the PSOJ, declared.

The private sector groups yesterday condemned the bomb threats and any other actions intended to disrupt or undermine the democratic process of voting in Jamaica.

“As a nation, we have come too far to allow fear and intimidation to compromise the rights of our people. Jamaica must show maturity and civility as a democracy – one where every citizen feels safe and confident in exercising their constitutional right to vote.”

The private sector groups urged every eligible Jamaican to go out and cast their ballot in the election.

At the same time, Dr Horace Chang, general secretary of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), has accused the Opposition People’s National Party (PNP) of orchestrating the bomb threats, but did not furnish any evidence to support the claim.

“It appears elements in the PNP have adopted mischievous and disruptive actions in an attempt to disrupt the voting of the security forces. I urge elements in the PNP to desist from seeking to cause disorder,” Chang, who is also minister of national security, said in a JLP release.

He charged that “no disruptive activity by the PNP will be allowed to disrupt the campaign of the Jamaica Labour Party which is based on our track-record and a firm commitment to doing more for the people of Jamaica”.

However, in a swift response, the PNP said it “strongly rejects the false and desperate accusations” made by Chang.

“When those in authority rush to spread false allegations without evidence, it is usually a signal of their own complicity,” the PNP said in a news release.

According to the PNP, Chang’s statement came even before the authorities had made any determinations, and “follows a pattern where the JLP has made sensational claims that later collapsed under scrutiny”.

The police, in the meantime, have reported that all the security threats made against government agencies yesterday had proven to be hoaxes.

In a statement yesterday the police said they would “continue to treat each report with the utmost urgency”.

The threats were made in an email sent to the Passport, Immigration & Citizenship Agency (PICA), which also warned that other entities had been targeted.

Staff at PICA, the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development and the National Housing Trust were evacuated from their respective offices as a precautionary measure.

Meanwhile, Director of Elections Glasspole Brown said yesterday’s voting by members of the security forces and election day workers proceeded without any major hiccups.

edmond.campbell@gleanerjm.com