July 6, 2025
MANCHESTER, Jamaica—— There is now a strong police/ military presence in parts of Manchester North East as the People’s National Party hosts its parish meeting in Christiana.
The security presence follows a political standoff in Fine Grass, Manchester where supporters of the two main political parties reportedly clashed over the placing of political flags on Saturday ahead of the PNP’s mass meeting. A man was shot and injured when police responded to the area.
Police and soldiers were posted in the area which leads northerly to Christiana on Sunday.
Councillor for the Alligator Pond division in Manchester Southern Omar Robinson, in addressing the gathering, told supporters that he is speeding up the meeting due to signs of political tension. He claimed that supporters of the JLP have been trying to intimidate PNP supporters traveling to the meeting.
“Labourite try block the road pon we. A labour rat and me say in the name of Jesus you nah go block the road pon we,” he said.
Earlier, all four representatives of the PNP for the four seats in Manchester energised the crowd of supporters as they arrived in Christiana.
They are Member of Parliament for Manchester North Western Mikael Phillips; former Manchester Central MP Peter Bunting who is vying to contest the next parliamentary election in Manchester Southern; Manchester Central aspirant Mandeville Mayor Donovan Michell and Manchester North East aspirant Valenton ‘Val’ Wint.
— Kasey Williams