Portmore Mayor Leon Thomas Under Investigation for Alleged Assault at Parish Status Meeting

PORTMORE, St. Catherine — Mayor Leon Thomas of Portmore is under police investigation following allegations of assaulting three women during a heated stakeholders’ meeting on Tuesday. The meeting, held at the St. Catherine Municipal Corporation, aimed to discuss the proposal of granting parish status to Portmore.

Tensions escalated when Mayor Thomas reportedly removed placards from protesters, leading to physical confrontations. In a statement issued Wednesday, Thomas acknowledged taking the placards to “restore order” amid the disruptions. He stated, “As presiding officer, I took steps to restore order, including removing placards from the hands of those who were deliberately creating chaos.”

The incident has drawn widespread criticism, with videos circulating on social media showing the mayor’s interactions with the protesters. The St. Catherine South police have confirmed an active investigation into the matter, examining the footage as part of their inquiry.

In response to the events, Mayor Thomas accused supporters of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) of intentionally disrupting the meeting. He condemned the disorderly actions, stating that they were attempts to derail the discussions on Portmore’s future. Meanwhile, JLP representatives have called for the mayor to retract his allegations and issue an apology to the women involved.