Glenroy Sinclair, Assignment Coordinator

Head of the operations portfolio of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), Deputy Commissioner Linval Bailey, has described yesterday's nomination day exercise as extremely successful on the part of the security forces.

"We deployed early and managed the flow of the candidates and things worked out beautifully," DCP Bailey told The Gleaner, shortly after nomination day activities ended.

With the exception of a journalist who was assaulted in Spanish Town, St. Catherine, the deputy commissioner said yesterday's exercise was incident-free.

Journalist attacked

Reports reaching The Gleaner are that CVM's Michael Pryce, a senior journalist, was attacked by a political activist in the Brunswick Avenue area of Spanish Town. He was hit in the face and had to be taken to hospital for treatment. It is said that Mr. Pryce sustained minor injuries to his eyes.

His attacker, reportedly, accused him of being a supporter of one of the two major political parties. Reports are that Mr. Pryce was a member of the CVM news team covering nomination day activities in the Old Capital when he was attacked.

According to DCP Bailey, the police established an Election Operations Management Centre at the commissioner's 103 Old Hope Road office. The centre oversaw the management of security operations involving nomination day activities.

The Police High Command also set up similar management structures at the Area and Divisional levels to execute the security operations. Special attention was directed at high profile and known political hot spots.DCP Bailey said the police, along with members of the Jamaica Defence Force maintained a strong presence in the volatile communities.