#JaVotes2016: Relatives bar elderly man from voting in Steer Town

Carl Gilchrist, Gleaner Writer

Returning officer for St Ann North Eastern, Rupert Brown was summoned to the Steer Town Primary and Junior High School after 10 a.m., following allegations by a People's National Party (PNP) liaison officer that Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) supporters were preventing some of his relatives from voting.

"The older people want to vote for the PNP but the younger ones, who are supporting the JLP, are intimidating them and telling them they can't vote," the PNP laison officer said.

He said the matter was initially reported to the police then to Brown, who quickly headed to the location.

Brown, however, told The Gleaner that it was a family issue.

He said an elderly man had come to vote but his relatives took him away depriving him of the right to vote.

"It's a family matter, we can't do anything about it," Brown said.

The returning officer said Steer Town division is seeing the usual heavy turnout of voters but things were going smoothly in the division and other areas across the constituency.

ST ANN NORTH EAST CANDIDATES:
JLP: Shahine Robinson
PNP: Desmond Gilmore