Incumbent JCA head Campbell accused of assault

KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – Allegations of physical assault against incumbent president Paul Campbell have marred the build-up to yesterday’s Jamaica Cricket Association elections.

Acting JCA secretary Ian Brown has accused Campbell of attacking him on Monday night at the JCA Sabina Park office, and has lodged a formal complaint with police over the matter, the Jamaica Observer has reported.

Campbell, who is opposing Lindel Wright in the elections, has denied Brown’s claims.

The alleged altercation occurred following a heated discussion over the voters list which Brown said Campbell appeared displeased with.

“He was asking who is coming from where and I told him ‘John’ and ‘Tom’. He keep asking me but it seems as if those are not the people he want to hear,” Brown was quoted as saying. “His voice keep going up, he made a call so I just swivel in my chair and was watching the news, then the next thing I know, through the corner of my eyes, he was on the desk and a kick was coming my way.

“The kicks were coming left, right and centre and I was blocking them. Several kicks were raining in my direction and at the same time he had a Guinness bottle in his hand and I had to be watching the bottle and watching the kicks at the same time.”

Brown, who is on Wright’s team for Wednesday’s elections, further claimed he had to seek medical attention for his left-arm which he said was used to block the attack from Campbell.

Campbell told the Observer, however, the only physical contact he had with Brown was when he tried to prevent him from the leaving the room.  “There were disagreements over the whole exercise of deciding on certain elements of the preparation for the election and that was it,” Campbell said.

“I don’t know what is physical. I know that at one point we were trying to resolve the differences and he decided to walk out and I told him that he could not, it is important that we settle the matter and I barred him from going out.”