DARYL Vaz last night said he was prepared to end campaigning as a safety measure for his West Portland constituents after one of his workers was stabbed to death while distributing election paraphernalia in Charles Town yesterday afternoon.

The murder victim was named as Omar Hernandez, a 32-year-old Maroon who, Vaz said, was “heavy into music, culture and was well-loved”.

Hernandez, who was dressed in a T-shirt bearing Vaz’s image, was reportedly murdered by a group of men about 2:30 pm.

“It is unfortunate, because it was just this year that he switched allegiance from the PNP to the JLP,” Vaz said. “So saddened am I by the loss of a life in my constituency that I am prepared, if it means saving another life, to cancel all my political activities between now and election, as we are not accustomed to this sort of intimidation and violence in Portland, the most peaceful parish in and out of election time.”

Vaz said Hernandez’s killing was even more tragic, given that he had called a meeting of his election workers on Saturday and had warned them to “be careful and stay far and wide from any form of confrontation”.

He said he would leave the police to carry out their investigation and hope that justice will be done.

Vaz also called on the leaders of both major political parties to let us use our political maturity and guide their supporters to a peaceful election and Christmas.