Political Ombudsman Moves to Clarify Statement on Central Kingston Shooting

The Office of the Political Ombudsman has taken the unusual step of publicly correcting itself, noting that a statement it issued on Wednesday about a shooting incident in the constituency of Central Kingston did not convey the appropriate tone.

The office has issued a new statement.

That new statement says the office has no evidence that the shooting incident in which the member of parliament, MP, the Jamaica Labour Party’s Donovan Williams and members of his campaign team came under gunfire, was politically motivated.

Mahiri Stewart reports.

On Tuesday, MP Donovan Williams was among a group of people who came under gunfire Tuesday evening while erecting campaign signs in the constituency.

The incident happened in the vicinity of Lower South Camp Road and Tower Street in a section of Parade Gardens popularly known as Southside.

In response to the incident, the Political Ombudsman issued a statement on Wednesday saying acts of violence, retaliation and intimidation, politically motivated or otherwise, are to be neither accepted nor tolerated.

It said those incidents of violence threaten to unravel the fabric of democracy which the country has worked tirelessly to maintain.

It also noted that although there is a recognition that campaigning is intensifying and tensions may run high as the country approaches the general election, political actors and supporters should allow the electoral process to run its course without interference.

But the Ombudsman has walked back that statement.

In its new press release, issued on Thursday morning, the office sought to clarify the message reflected in Wednesday’s statement.

The Office of the Political Ombudsman says recognising how news of the incident may influence public perception of the situation, it’s urging calm among campaign supporters and the general public.

It notes that the appeal was a general call for peaceful and responsible campaigning.

The Office of the Political Ombudsman says it was not directed to any particular political representatives or supporters associated with Central Kingston nor the alleged incident.

There was no reason given for the change of tone by the office.

However, the clarification comes after the PNP issued a strong statement in which it claimed that it’s information concluded that gang warfare and not partisan politics was behind Tuesday’s shooting incident.