PNP reschedules parish meeting to avoid clash with JLP rally on Sunday

The People’s National Party (PNP) has postponed its planned Kingston & St. Andrew parish meeting, originally set for Sunday, August 10, citing public safety concerns after the Prime Minister announced a Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) rally for the same day in the corporate area.

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The meeting, which was to be held in Cross Roads as the final leg of the PNP’s islandwide mobilisation campaign, followed weeks of parish meetings across the island. The campaign began with a two-day bus tour on July 4–5 and a large kick-off rally in Manchester on July 6. Since then, PNP officials have engaged with citizens every Sunday, discussing concerns, sharing the party’s vision, and building momentum ahead of the next general election.

The party says it had secured all necessary permits for the August 10 event well in advance. However, the JLP’s decision to host a rally in Half-Way Tree on the same day raised fears of both parties’ supporters converging in close proximity, potentially straining police resources and creating security risks.

“In the interest of public safety and to avoid any avoidable conflict, we have made the responsible decision to reschedule the KSA Parish Meeting,” said PNP General Secretary Dr. Dayton Campbell. “Public safety must never be sacrificed for political theatre. We refuse to allow the Prime Minister to use a manufactured clash as an excuse to delay elections. Jamaica deserves better.”

The PNP says the decision reflects its commitment to avoiding confrontation, protecting the public, and ensuring police resources are not overstretched by simultaneous large-scale political events. New details for the rescheduled meeting will be announced in the coming days.