Police Commissioner satisfied with security plan for SE St Mary

With less than 24 hours before a by-election in South Eastern St Mary, Commissioner of Police George Quallo is expressing confidence that security arrangements are adequate.

Speaking with The Gleaner-Power-106 News this morning, the police commissioner said some of the country's most senior and experienced cops have been providing support to the local police in the lead up to the by-election.  

He says the police's only concern at this time is congestion in the town of Annotto Bay. However, he says adequate personnel will be deployed to manage traffic in the small coastal town.

The constituency remains tense ahead of tomorrow's highly anticipated race between the ruling Jamaica Labour Party's (JLP), Dr Norman Dunn and the People's National Party's (PNP) Dr Shane Alexis.  

The unusually tense political atmosphere in the usually calm rural constituency has triggered several infractions between supporters of both major political parties in recent weeks. There have been reports of threats and shootings, as well as property being defaced.

Last week two men, said to be supporters of the Opposition PNP, were shot and injured in the constituency.

However, the police have since indicated there is no evidence to suggest the shooting was linked to politics. The ruling JLP had condemned the shooting.

This forced the intervention of the political ombudsman, who visited the constituency and the commissioner of police, who has had to beef up police presence.