UWI student banned from attending Political meeting

A University of the West Indies UWI student is now living in fear after being threatened in the community she resides because she attended a meetings of one of Jamaica’s major political parties.

Khelani Martin*, who lives in an area close to UWI, said she was warned not to attend anymore meetings for the election period.

“They told me they heard I was at the rally and I should not go to anymore because it’s a disrespect to the area,” she revealed.

According to the second-year student, she feels she is being monitored because the party’s meeting she attended was not the party the community she lives in supports.

“I live in a stronghold so I didn’t wear my shirt from home to the meeting, but somehow they found out I attended and I was warned two times not to disrespect the community,” she explained.

Martin describes the men who approached her to indicate their disapproval as thugs that operate within her community, and says that has increased her anxiety in her daily routine.

President of Guild of Students at the UWI, Davianne Tucker, said that the incident was an unfortunate one.

“Each member of the electorate should be free to support any party they want because it is their democratic right,” said Tucker.

She, however, said students need to assess the environment in order to protect themselves during the election period.

“They need to be aware of their environment so they can refrain from wearing certain colours or engaging in discussions about politics,” said Tucker.

The UWI, Mona campus police said there have been no reports of political-based violence since the election period begun.

News Credit: jamaica-star