The Opposition People’s National Party, PNP is calling for a fair and just prosecution of Spanish Town Mayor Norman Scott.

The mayor is before the court in connection with an incident involving a Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) indoor agent at a polling station on election day, September 3.

He pleaded not guilty to assault and malicious destruction of property charges when he appeared in the St. Elizabeth Parish Court, on Monday October 13.

He is to return to court on Thursday November 27.

King’s Counsel Tom Tavares-Finson who is representing the complainant said he wants to prosecute Mayor Scott.

In a statement today, the PNP expressed grave concern about public utterances made by Mr.  Tavares-Finson, that he has applied to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions for a fiat to prosecute Mayor Scott.

The p-n-p said it is widely known that Mr. Tavares-Finson, is a political operative aligned with the ruling JLP and serves as a JLP-appointed Senator, President of the Senate, and JLP-nominated Commissioner of the Electoral Commission of Jamaica. 

The PNP noted that against this background, it is wholly improper for a known political operative of the JLP to be granted a fiat to prosecute a political officer aligned with the opposing party.

The party said it maintains that the right to a fair trial is a universal human right that ensures justice is served based on evidence, not political considerations. 

It added that a fair trial requires an impartial and disinterested prosecutor. 

Opposition Spokesperson on Justice, Zuleika Jess, said it is a denial of justice to deprive an accused individual of basic fairness and impartiality. 

She said prosecutors play an important role in preserving public trust in the justice system due to their unique role as ministers of justice.”

She added that prosecutors are asked to exercise substantial discretion and are required to operate in a disinterested way. 

According to Ms. Jess, the public’s perception that the justice system operates in an unbiased manner is crucial to the administration of justice.

She said where the process is tainted by real or reasonably perceived prejudices, the public’s trust in the system is eroded. 

The PNP is calling  for due respect for the rights of all parties concerned and emphasises that true democracy demands impartiality, restraint, and equal protection of rights—not selective justice.