Justice Minister Delroy Chuck has urged political candidates to “keep it clean” ahead of the local government election by creating an atmosphere of peace within the political landscape.

Chuck issued the call during a church service at the New Beulah Moravian Church in Manchester on Sunday to mark the start of Restorative Justice Week.

He noted that Jamaica is plagued with numerous instances of crime and violence. The minister urged politicians to set an example, by promoting peace and ensuring a clean election even as they seek to compete for their divisions.

“The prime minister and the leader of the opposition have admonished all candidates to play it clean. No need to be abusing your opponent. No reason to engage in any form of destructive behaviour, and at the end of the day, may the best person win in each division,” said Chuck.

“In my area, I encourage my opponent to visit everywhere. I don’t want a garrison. I even introduced, over the last five elections, incoming opponents to their delegates and I work with delegates from the other side because we want a peaceful place. So you have never heard of political violence in North East St Andrew for the last 20-odd years. We must work together, and we must encourage our opponents the freedom to campaign, especially if you know you’re the better person,” he added.

Restorative Justice Week is celebrated under the theme, ‘Transformation, Peace and Harmony through Restorative Justice’.

Chuck noted that it is common for people to disagree, even within the political landscape. However, he noted that the right to disagree is what maintains democracy and contributes to the building of a better society.

“Democracy is not about everybody agreeing. Democracy is about agreeing to disagree because out of disagreement the best can emerge. But we must disagree with civility uprightly, with decency without using abuses and violence to resolve the disagreement,” said the justice minister.

He further encouraged candidates to let their opponents campaign freely because he believes this would send a signal to Jamaicans that they could disagree and still work together.

“So, in this restorative justice week, I ask political candidates, but more so church members and citizens across Jamaica, let us play our part to secure and bring peace and harmony to this lovely place we call Jamaica. I beg of you, make your contribution towards peace from this day on,” he stressed.

The local government election will take place on February 26. Nomination day will be on February 8.

The long-awaited elections were constitutionally due in 2020. However, they were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The government also stated that Jamaica’s fragile economy post-pandemic as reason for a further postponement of the election.