MANDEVILLE, Manchester — Custos of Manchester Sally Porteous has had her own stint in representational politics.

From 2003 to 2011 she served as a Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) councillor for the Mandeville Division.

In the 2007 general election Porteous was considered a tough contender to now Manchester Central Member of Parliament Peter Bunting as they wrestled for the role.

Speaking candidly to the

Jamaica Observer, prior to manning the proceedings for the signing of the political code of conduct by candidates in Manchester contesting the February 25 election, she said that she does not have any difficulty being non-partisan in her current duties because of some personal principles, which have always guided her actions.

One such, Porteous said, is that an individual’s political affiliation should never determine how that person is treated.

“I believe that everybody should support the party that they think is the best to run your country. I have never believed in political victimisation,” she said passionately, noting that she has had the misfortune of losing a job she had as film commissioner at Jamaica Promotions (Jampro) as a result of the practice.

Jampro, a government agency, promotes business opportunities in export and investment.

“I was in a job that I adored. I think I was quite good at it. I lost my job because the Government changed. I had my mortgage and my child to send to school and (suddenly) I had no job. I hated it and I would never do it to anybody else,” said Porteous.

She said that candidates who cannot look beyond political affiliation have no business being in politics.

“PNP (People’s National Party supporters) want jobs, JLP (Jamaica Labour Party supporters) want jobs. PNP want good health, JLP want good health. PNP want national security to be able to protect them, (JLP want the same thing). Everybody needs and wants the same thing. You should only be political when you are running a campaign. Even then you must recognise the fact that there are people whom you must help. If you can’t do that, you have no business being in politics,” said Porteous.

One of the pointers that was read to candidates before they took turns signing was that they will adhere to the political code of conduct that members of the two main parties and any other legitimate political party should work on the “vexed” question of the distribution of scarce benefits.

Porteous told the

Observer that she is pleased that custodes and justices of the peace are now involved in the process for the signing of the political code of conduct.

“You have almost an extra pair of eyes…,” she said.

With the press present, Porteous said that may also assist in the dissemination of information “to people who might have some misplaced belief that the way you win an election is to frighten and threaten everybody.”