Controversy mounts over flag replica foul up

Controversy is mounting over an incomplete replica of the Jamaican flag, recently used during a civic ceremony in Montego Bay St. James.

The green was missing from the top and the bottom of the flag, which was used as a back-drop during the installation ceremony for the new Mayor of Montego Bay Glendon Harris, as well as other councillors.

Opposition Leader Andrew Holness issued a statement this afternoon, expressing concern over what he called the government’s vulgar politicizing of national civic events and symbols.

There are claims that the green was left out of the replica deliberately, because it is the colour used by the opposition JLP.

Several Jamaicans have been condemning the situation, on social networking sites, such as Facebook.

The JLP, which is pointing fingers at the governing PNP, has called on Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller to also condemn the action.

It has described the treatment of the replica as a disgraceful violation of the national symbol, at a time when the country is celebrating 50 years of political independence.

Opposition spokesman on information Senator Arthur Williams is among those accusing the government of politicizing the country's national symbols and civic functions.

Like his party, Senator Williams thinks the treatment of the incomplete flag is the most reprehensible of them all.

Meanwhile, the JLP is calling for Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller to condemn what it describes, as the vulgar politicizing of national civic events

The opposition has claimed that some of its members have been heckled and their guests harassed during a number of civic ceremonies held to swear in local government representatives.

The JLP is casting blame on the governing PNP for the heckling that took place in Portmore and St. James, as well as the relocation of the swearing in ceremony for the Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation.