Leader of the United Independents’ Congress (UIC), Joseph Patterson was offered bail by investigators at the Central Police Station following his involvement in organising and mobilising an anti-vaccine protest in downtown Kingston.

According to a statement from the Corporate Communications Unit (CCU) late Wednesday (September 22), Patterson was offered bail with surety after he was arrested by officers for breaches of the Public Order Act and the Disaster Risk Management Act (DRMA).

Patterson, a chartered accountant by profession, was among over 100 protesters who gathered at the Ward Theatre yesterday to voice their opposition to the Government’s roll-out of coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines to combat the pandemic.

Patterson, who initially planned to march on Gordon House, also demanded the en-masse resignation of all 63 Members of Parliament.

Many of the protestors bore signs “My body, my choice”—decrying their freedom to choose to take the vaccine, which was seemingly being taken away from them by mandates imposed by select business entities.

Alleging the government was complicit in this ‘breach of rights’, the UIC and its supporters are strongly against any vaccine mandate by the Andrew Holness administration, despite such a law not yet in existence.

The Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), in its statement, reminded members of the public that “no permit has or will be given for public marches to take place at this time”.

See related article: Anti-vaxx protest leader arrested during march in downtown Kingston