PNP Caretakers Win Injunction Blocking Removal of Campaign Signs in St James

The legal battle over the removal of PNP campaign signs by the St. James Municipal Corporation is escalating.

Three PNP caretakers in the parish have been granted permission to seek judicial review of the decision.

They’ve also been granted an injunction by the Supreme Court against any further actions by the Corporation to have their campaign material removed.

Chevon Campbell tells us more.

The case was triggered by the St. James Municipal Corporation’s decision, under the leadership of Mayor of Montego Bay,Richard Vernon, to take down multiple PNP campaign posters on April 5, 2025.

This action was later formalized through a motion at the Corporation’s Finance Committee meeting on April 9, 2025, which purported to authorize the removal of PNP campaign material across the parish.

The claim was filed on behalf of PNP prospective candidates for West Central St. James, Dr. Andre Haughton, Central St. James, Janice Allen and North West St. James, Allan Bernard.

The St. James Municipal Corporation was listed as the sole respondent.

Dr. Haughton is seeking to unseat the Marlene Malahoo Forte, while Allen is mounting a challenge to Heroy Clarke and Bernard is seeking to take down JLP veteran, Dr. Horace Chang.

The PNP lost all three seats by more than a thousand votes in the last General Election.

The PNP caretakers applied for judicial review of the decision the Corporation to order the removal of their political billboards that had been erected in and around the town.

They also sought an order quashing the decision of the Corporation to remove the billboards on or around April 5, 2025.

They’ve also called for a judicial review of the motion passed by the Corporation on or around April 9, 2025 in the finance committee meeting which prohibited the display of advertisements for parliamentary candidates in the pending general election.

The PNP candidates similarly applied for an order barring any officers, servants or agents of the St. James Municipal Corporation from removing or interfering with their political advertisements.

Finally, they requested an order compelling the respondent, its officers, servants or agents to return, restore, or reinstate the applicants’ political advertisements or signage that they removed or caused to be removed from in and around the Municipal District of Saint James.

Having been granted leave to seek judicial review, the PNP members say they intend to seek a declaration that the respondent acted ultra vires, unlawfully and in breach of procedural fairness.

The PNP is represented by attorney-at-law Maurice McCurdy

The St. James Municipal Corporation is represented by the law firm Bennett Cooper Smith.