UNACCEPTABLE, MR. GOLDING

It was with disbelief that I was informed this evening of the shooting incident at the National Arena this past Sunday during the annual conference of the ruling Jamaica Labour Party.

The shooting incident took place within mere feet of the current head of government - Prime Minister Bruce Golding - and resulted in the death of one man, and the injury of two others, as reported in an article in leading newspaper The Jamaica Observer (see below for full article).

Bottom line: Mr. Golding, if your own personnel can not restrain and marshal attendees of your own political party's annual conference and secure your personal safety (as head of government), how can Jamaicans be assured that these same people - appointed by you and currently running, or affiliated with, the Ministry of Defense and National Security - are capable of managing the safety and security of Jamaica and her people?

Mr. Golding, you are faced with one option and one option only: take full responsibility of the entire debacle and personally see to it that whomsoever was in charge of security for the occasion is IMMEDIATELY removed from office (and if they are an expatriate, they must be deported).

Failure to carry out such a decisive measure will result in a loss of credibility of your management of this country's future with regards to crime - the number one critical issue facing Jamaica, her investable future, and the future of her people.

We need leaders, not partisans politics, to lead Jamaica into the future after 18 years of corruption and mis-management.

Which are you, Mr. Golding?

________________________________________________________________

Killing mars JLP confab Three men shot, labourites blame, stone cops

By Kimmo Matthews Observer staff reporter matthewsk@jamaicaobserver.com Monday, November 17, 2008

Three men were yesterday shot, one fatally, at the National Arena during the 65th annual conference of the ruling Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), triggering chaos and a hostile stand-off between labourites and police who were blamed for the fatal shooting.

Exactly what caused the shootings was not immediately clear. However, one man attending the conference said it all started inside the arena behind the stage on which Prime Minister and JLP leader Bruce Golding and other Government ministers were seated.

Jamaica Labour Party supporters carry this man who was shot during the party's 65th annual conference yesterday at the National Arena in Kingston. (Photo: Llewellyn Wynter)

"A from in the arena the shot them start fire right behind where the PM and the other MPs were sitting, yu nuh," said the man who requested anonymity.

"It all started from a scuffle and then all we hear is when the first shot buss' in the building. This was followed by two others."

Party supporters then claimed the men were chased out of the building and shot by police.

This motor vehicle was damaged by missiles thrown at police by angry Jamaica Labour Party supporters yesterday after a shooting incident during the party's 65th annual conference at the National Arena in Kingston. (Photo: Llewellyn Wynter)

The police, however, denied the claim.

"We can confirm that a shooting incident took place at approximately 2:04 pm inside the National Arena at the back of the stage area involving person/s attending the Jamaica Labour Party's annual conference," a senior cop told the Observer.

Last night, the Constabulary Communication Network, the police information arm, said: "Based on early information, one person was shot inside the arena, while another two were shot outside in front of the arena. A 9mm pistol was seized by the police."

The shootings sent JLP supporters on the outside of the National Arena scurrying for cover and screaming in fear as the gunshots rang out minutes before Golding addressed the conference.

"Jesus Christ! Help! Murder!" screamed women and children while some were seen running and carrying two men soaked in blood.

One of the men appeared to have a gaping gunshot wound to his head while the other, whose name was given as Bryan, was seen holding his abdomen.

The incident did not cause chaos inside the arena as JLP officials were able to keep supporters calm. However, outside labourites confronted the police, accusing them of the shootings.

"Murder them murder the youth them. Them can't say a shoot-out, we see with we eyes," the angry supporters said while hurling stones and bottles at the police, who at first stood their ground, then took cover in armoured vehicles.

Last night, party officials condemned the shootings and said they had opened a probe to determine what happened.
The party also said it was shocked and disgusted that the incident "marred what was otherwise a very successful conference".

"The incident arose from an apparent altercation between individuals which led to one being shot dead by the police," the JLP said in a statement. "The party wishes to express its deep regret at this very unfortunate loss of life and injury."

The party said that General-Secretary Karl Samuda has ordered an immediate investigation into all circumstances related to the incident and pledged the party's full co-operation with the police in leaving no stone unturned in unearthing the truth.

"Further, acting on instructions of party leader Bruce Golding, a thorough review of all security arrangements for future party conferences will be immediately undertaken to ensure no recurrence," the JLP said.

During his address to the conference, Golding said: "If anybody who claims to be a supporter of the labour party believes that the method and the measure of this party lies behind the trigger of a gun, for God's sake leave Bustamante's party alone."

"We didn't need any guns when we won the last elections. We don't need any guns to win the next election. I want every MP, every caretaker, every councillor, every constituency executive, every polling division worker, I want us to resolve today that what happened here today must never, ever happen again."