Acting Police Commissioner Everton Jeffers has rejected the United Progressive Party’s (UPP) application to hold a Whistlestop event in the St. John’s Rural East constituency on November 12. The decision was made without any explanation provided to the Party. The Whistlestop was planned to rally public support for an independent investigation into the ongoing scandal involving the Ministry of Public Works, led by Maria Browne, the parliamentary representative for Rural East. The UPP had initially sought police permission for the event on November 6, following the denial of their request for an islandwide Motorcade on November 9. The police cited insufficient personnel due to the Remembrance Day ceremony at The Cenotaph as the reason for the Motorcade denial. On November 7, the UPP proposed delaying their event by an hour to accommodate the ceremony, but the Commissioner remained firm in his refusal. He did, however, suggest that a later date after November 9 could be considered. The UPP has since announced plans to proceed with a Motorcade on November 16, pending written confirmation from the police. Meanwhile, the Party is urging citizens to join their protest actions against the alleged $15 million fraud scandal, dubbed ‘Bronco-gate/Vehicle-gate/Chain-Gang Scandal,’ and to demand an independent inquiry into the Ministry of Works.
Police deny UPP permission for Rural East Whistlestop; no reason given
