WITH NATIONAL elections drawing near, all political aspirants have been told to be sincere in their claims that they are committed to a peaceful election.
Pastor Renard White, a member of the Peace Management Initiative (PMI), yesterday told Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller and nine other parliamentary hopefuls that if they "do not possess the desire to be clear, to be clean, and to be upright, I say to you that you are in the wrong business."
The occasion was the signing of a political code of conduct at the Hunts Bay Police Station by persons seeking to represent the five constituencies covered by the South St. Andrew Police Division.
The signing came a day after Mrs. Simpson Miller and Opposition Leader Bruce Golding issued a joint statement, pledging to be peaceful and respectful as they campaign for a parliamentary seat.
The general election will be held on August 27.
At yesterday's signing Derrick 'Cowboy' Knight, the superintendent in charge of the Hunt's Bay police station, who organised the signing of the code of conduct, told the candidates that they should see it as more than something for the camera.
"I want the persons thatare involved to put their hearts in this," Superintendent Knight said.
"To thine own self be true. Look to your character, be honest, be moderate and be sincere. Be true to your own highest convictions," Mr. Knight added.
The Prime Minister used the ceremony to restate her commitment to peaceful elections and JLP Deputy Leader Derrick Smith said candidates were to be sincere in their pronouncements for a peaceful and free election.
"Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God," Mrs. Simpson Miller said.
"When we demonstrate to our supporters that we are serious they will take the cue from us," she added.
The Prime Minister said it was hypocritical for the country to spend millions of dollars every year to promote Jamaica with its 'One Love' theme while this was not bearing out on the ground.
Supt. Knight said the signing of the code was important for a division considered the most challenging in Jamaica.
The signing achieved what Political Ombudsman Bishop Herro Blair was unable to achieve last year - get Patrick Roberts and Anthony Holness of the volatile West Central St. Andrew constituency to shake hands.
Mr. Holness had previously refused to shake either Mr. Roberts' or Bishop Blair's hand, saying he was not a hypocrite.
Yesterday, however, the two men shook hands and Mr. Roberts said it was the first time since March last year that they had been that close.
Mr. Holness said that, in shaking Mr. Roberts' hand that he knew he had "a duty to send a signal to the constituency that even when we have differences we can live together peacefully".
Mr. Roberts said: "It is significant to me that once more I can demonstrate to the constituency and to Jamaica that I am for the peace".
Meanwhile, Mr. Smith urged all candidates to not see the signing as a photo opportunity but to note that supporters take their cue from leaders.
"This ceremony, this morning is a wonderful photo opportunity for us politicians, but I think we have to reflect beyond that. We have to deal with sincerity," Mr. Smith said.
"It is all well and good, before the cameras, we sign a document and when we leave here some of us, in a subtle, and perhaps not so subtle a way, breach the Code of Conduct in one way or another. We either do it ourselves or allow our representatives in the field to do it without rebuking them."
Constituencies covered by South St. Andrew Police Division
| Division | PNP | JLP |
| South West St. Andrew | Portia Simpson Miller | Garnett Reid |
| East Central St. Andrew | Dr. Peter Phillips | Claude Riddell |
| West St. Andrew | Anthony Hylton | Joyce Young |
| North West St. Andrew | Jermaine Martin | Derrick Smith |
| West Central St. Andrew | Patrick Roberts | Andrew Holness |
