ST ANDREW, Jamaica — People’s National Party (PNP) president Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller last night said she was prepared to die with Comrades following a shooting incident at a PNP rally in St Andrew.

Gunshots rang out at the Portia Simpson Miller Square minutes before the prime minister addressed the massive crowd gathered for the party’s final meeting ahead of General Elections tomorrow.

“I was watching carefully, because the thing that came to me is the protection of the people standing in front of me.

I would have to go down with the people here.

“They came here because we had a meeting here and there’s no way as leader I would leave the people, I would die with them,” Simpson Miller said following the shooting which occurred in her constituency.

She said she was confident that the police would brief her on the cause of the incident as soon as they complete investigations into the matter.

At the same time, the prime minister, when asked if she feared a repeat of the violent 1980 General Election said: “[This was] no way near there. I don’t think so and the person who did it is either crazy, was paid or sent and took a very serious chance tonight.”

“The only thing on my mind now, is all the persons that came to this meeting will get home safely,” she added, after refusing to leave the scene of the incident.

“I’ve often called for a peaceful campaign, no intimidation and as Jamaicans we should live together in peace and love,” said Simpson Miller.

She later visited those who were injured during the stampede which ensued after gunshots rang out.

In the meantime, Senior Medical Officer at the Kingston Public Hospital Dr Natalie Whylie confirmed that 37 people, including two children, were injured. Three people were admitted in stable condition, one of whom underwent surgery after being shot in the back.

Whylie said two emergency posts were set up at the rally by the Ministry of Health and that responses to those injured were timely.

The police said details surrounding the cause of incident are still unclear at this time.

Kimone Francis