Statement By the NDC
We wish to bring to the attention of the public the actions of the NNP Administration to BLOCK the events planned by the NDC for this weekend.
Early the morning following the announcement of the general elections, the NDC notified the police of its plans to hold a Motorcade on Sunday July 6th 2008 in keeping with our usual tradition.
A plan was submitted to the police and subsequently a meeting was held between the police and both political parties to discuss the Motorcade. Both Parties the NNP and the NDC expressed a desire to hold the motorcade on Sunday July 6th 2008.
In that meeting the commissioner acknowledged that there is no law that requires permission to hold a Motorcade.
Being made aware that both parties desired to hold their motorcade on Sunday, we, the NDC, submitted a detailed route to the commissioner to avert any possible conflict and to ensure that suitable arrangements can be made to facilitate both parties.
It should be noted that during the last general elections both parties held their motorcades on the same day with no conflict or incidents.
While the original plan was to start and end our motorcade in St. George, we decided to move our motorcade to start in Telescope, St. Andrew and end on the Pearl’s Airstrip, so as to avoid any possible conflict.
We received a letter from the commissioner of police advising that he is denying permission to hold the Motorcade on Sunday.
Recognizing that permission was not required to hold the motorcade the commissioner has now sent us a second letter dated July 2nd advising that he would not allow us to hold our motorcade on Sunday, WITH THE USE OF A SOUND SYSTEM.
In addition, the NNP Administration has blocked our request to use the Pearl’s Airstrip for the conclusion of the Motorcade.
Furthermore there are plans afoot to deny us the use of the old stadium in St. George which we have requested for the purpose of a lunch stop on the day of the Motorcade.
We have also received indications that the guest artists who are expected to perform at our weekend events are likely to be denied work permits.
These developments confirm that this government will do everything possible to stifle the will of the people.
It demonstrates that the NNP administration is in a state of absolute panic, recognizing that they are about to lose the election.
Up until this point both parties have held several activities in different venues without any difficulties. At every stage of this campaign we have co-operated fully with the police to ensure a well managed and peaceful election.
This desperate attempt to stop our events on the final leg of the campaign is an admission by the NNP that the NDC is poised to win this election.
We call on the police and the authorities concerned to do what is right and fair for all. Both parties must be given a fair opportunity to make its final appeal to the public.
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