Nekeisha Burchell, deputy general secretary of the People’s National Party (PNP,) is urging parents and adults in general to take greater responsibility for the safety of young people participating in political motorcades.

This follows the tragic death of a 15-year-old boy, who reportedly died after falling from a bus during a PNP motorcade in Portmore, St Catherine, on Sunday, February 18.

Reports are that the youngster fell and hit his head after trying to hop off one vehicle to catch another.

He later died at the Spanish Town Hospital.

“I generally feel that participation in the political process should not be restricted by age. I believe that if we are exposing our young people early enough to governance, the structure of politics and how it works, it will make them more informed adults. So I am not against including younger people in the political conversation. When it comes to the actual participation in motorcades and such for persons who are under the age of 18. I believe the parents ought to take full responsibility for their safety and ensure that if they choose to have them engaged in political activities, that it should be done under the guidance and supervision of an approved adult,” she stressed.

Meanwhile, Burchell said the party will be beefing up its marshalling team during the campaign process.

“We will continue to beef up our marshalling team, we have a road management team that tries to ensure order and to keep the tours organized. But as you can imagine, we would not have sufficient marshalls to oversee every vehicle and what is happening in every vehicle. We are calling on the authorities to assist not just the PNP but the JLP [Jamaica Labour Party] as well because you are aware of a lady losing both legs on Nomination Day and another incident involving another supporter of the JLP who had serious injuries while out campaigning. We are thinking of all Jamaicans who are taking the time out to support the party of their choice. We are just going to be relying on the state apparatus to support us a best as possible to be a second pair of eyes to look out infractions and to help our supporters to use the road safely,” she said.

She further implored party supporters to be vigilant about not only their safety, but also that of others during the campaign process.

” I am not at all blaming anyone in particular for what occurred because I do not have the details around that. All I know is a young man lost his life while engaging the political process and that is a significant sadness. It was a damper yesterday and it will be a damper for us in years to come the party leader I am aware has made plans to visit the party leader this morning and perhaps is already with them so we are making good on our commitment to the family that we will stand with them during this difficult time. We again on the part of the PNP express our condolences to the family of the deceased and to reaffirm the PNP support to them in this difficult time,” Burchell added.

Just a few weeks ago, a female JLP supporter lost her leg in a motor vehicle crash during a motorcade in the vicinity of the Yallahs Primary School in St Thomas on nomination day.