SANTA CRUZ, St Elizabeth – Police chief in St Elizabeth, Superintendent Lanford Salmon, yesterday demanded of political candidates that they show “leadership” in ensuring a peaceful election campaign in St Elizabeth.

A stern, forthright Salmon metaphorically read from ‘The Book’ as he told candidates at a political code of conduct signing at the St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS), yesterday, that they had to take responsibility in guiding their supporters.

Jamaica Labour Party incumbent JC Hutchinson for St Elizabeth North Western was a notable unexplained absentee at the ceremony. Independent candidate for St Elizabeth North Eastern Joseph Patterson was also absent, but organisers said he sent a message of apology and explanation.

Salmon used his own job as police chief in the parish to dramatise his position, that candidates seeking to win the parliamentary election on February 25 should see themselves as having “vicarious responsibility” for the conduct of their followers.

“If any member of my staff choose to behave unprofessionally in this parish, it reflects [badly] on me and it goes likewise for the political process,” Salmon argued.

The police chief’s strong words came against the backdrop of a stone-throwing incident which left a PNP supporter with head injuries on Thursday night while she was in a car travelling to Junction for a mass rally. She was reportedly treated at hospital — receiving five stitches — and later released.

The incident happened at Chapman, Cheapside, just east of Junction, traditionally recognised as a strong JLP enclave in St Elizabeth South Eastern.

Without calling JLP candidate for the constituency Frank Witter by name, Salmon told yesterday’s ceremony that the candidate should take it as his responsibility to proactively intervene to prevent a recurrence.

“I want to engage the member from South East to go down into Chapman [and] speak to the persons down there to say, “ ‘listen stop it, it is not looking good,’” said Salmon.

Noting that the constituency leaders from the two major political parties usually “live good”, Salmon said they should ensure that their community leaders understood and appreciated the need to live in peace and harmony with political opponents.

Chapman apart, Salmon identified Barbary Hall in St Elizabeth South West, “to a lesser extent” the Brompton area of St Elizabeth South West, Lacovia in St Elizabeth North West and Rocky Hill in St Elizabeth North East as traditional trouble spots to which the police would pay close attention. Constituency leaders and candidates should do likewise, he said.

“These are areas we need our candidates to speak to their community leaders to say, ‘Don’t do that. It’s not right, it will reflect badly on us,’” said Salmon.

Earlier, Political Ombudsman Donna Parchment Brown had also referred to the stone-throwing incident in urging candidates to use their influence to achieve good behaviour and order during the campaign.

She emphasised the need for candidates to be careful in their “public utterances” in order to avoid incitement of violent conduct.

“We must be very conscious of the words we use,” she said. Parchment Brown also renewed her calls for candidates to ensure that supporters refrain from installing political flags in communities.

Parchment Brown was nonplussed by Hutchinson’s absence, saying he had confirmed he would be present but could not be reached early Saturday.

“As far as I am aware, all the candidates except one (Patterson), who had a personal matter in Kingston were confirmed. I am not certain why Mr Hutchinson wasn’t here but, I know this is a process that he is positive about, so I hope nothing untoward has happened to prevent him from being here,” Parchment Brown told the Jamaica Observer at the end of the signing ceremony.

Efforts by the Sunday Observer to reach Hutchinson by telephone failed up to yesterday afternoon.

Among those signing the code of conduct in St Elizabeth yesterday were former West Indies fast bowler and current councillor of the Malvern Division, Daren Powell (People’s National Party – PNP) who is challenging the veteran Hutchinson in St Elizabeth North Western.

For St Elizabeth South Western incumbent candidate Hugh Buchanan (PNP), his main challenger Floyd Green (JLP) and an independent candidate Mervyn Wint signed. Incumbent Richard Parchment (PNP) and opponent Frank Witter (JLP) signed for St Elizabeth South Eastern.

With Patterson absent, three candidates signed the code of conduct for St Elizabeth North Eastern. They were Evon Redman (PNP), who replaced outgoing MP Raymond Pryce as the PNP’s candidate; Dr Saphire Longmore representing the JLP; and independent candidate, businessman Delroy Slowley who has been tipped to attract much of the support from Pryce supporters, angered by the decision to remove him as the PNP’s standard-bearer.