ST ANN’S BAY, St Ann — Scores of Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) supporters in North East St Ann yesterday staged a peaceful demonstration outside the constituency office in the parish capital calling on the court to clear the way for a by-election to be held.

The placard-bearing supporters, who lined sections of the streets while dancing to gospel music and chanting party slogans, said delay tactics were being used to prevent the constituents from going back to the polls.

“The court had already ruled that a by-election be held and the people of North East St Ann have been waiting for too long for the court to clear the way for the by-election, the court needs to make a ruling, its full time” said Dian Gordon-Bailey.

The court is expected to rule tomorrow whether a stay of execution obtained by lawyers representing the People’s National Party’s (PNP) Manley Bowen will continue until his appeal against the Supreme Court ruling for a by-election is heard.

The appellate court last month granted the stay of execution, which prevents Prime Minister Bruce Golding from setting a date for a by-election in the constituency. The by-election was ordered by the Supreme Court after the JLP’s Shahine Robinson was booted from the seat after it was found out that she had sworn allegiance to the United States.

Yesterday afternoon, the JLP executive of the constituency called a press conference where they expressed concerns over the protracted period it is taking for the matter to be settled.

They also complained about the lack of representation for the constituency in the lower house, claiming that the people have been placed in a disadvantageous position.

Councillor for the Ocho Rios Division, Neville Williams said the constituents were becoming impatient and wanted the way to be cleared for Robinson to be returned.

Williams declared that supporters were not trying to force the hands of the court or influence the outcome of the case in any way, but said that “the constituents want the powers that be to look into the matter.”

“We are no way trying to influence the outcome of this case, but we would like the man in the street to understand our position, we have done nothing wrong and we should not be allowed to be treated this way,” he said.

Meanwhile, councilor for the Ocho Rios Division and former mayor of St Ann’s Bay, Delroy Giscombe said supporters were livid and that party officials had been trying hard to convince them to remain calm.

Yesterday, the protesters said they wanted to send a strong message to “the powers that be” that the people needed representation in parliament.

They also accused elements in the opposition PNP of trying to stall the process in the court and “hold back the constituency for their own selfish reasons.”

Meanwhile, the supporters said they intend to send a strong message to the PNP as thousands of them will be heading to Kingston on Sunday for the party’s annual conference.

Williams said although supporters will be going without their “beloved political representative”, their spirits were high and that “the JLP flag for the constituency will be flown extremely high”.