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PUP Candidate Francis Smith's Car Burned; He Blames UDP Camp
posted (February 29, 2012)
Last night on the news you saw PUP Pickstock Candidate Dr. Francis Smith making the case for a Polling Area on the north-side of the city to accommodate voters in his constituency.

Well, he got it - this evening, the notice was sent out from the Elections and Boundaries Department that the Central Christian Assembly on Freetown Road will now be used as a northside polling station for the Pickstock Division.

That was a fairly easy victory for Smith - but by midnight he'd experienced a major setback: his car, a Mercedes Benz was torched. But it's not only that the car was burnt up which is making news tonight - it's the very dangerous place where it happened.

Jules Vasquez has more:

Jules Vasquez Reporting

This is where Dr. Francis Smith's Mercedes Benz caught on fire or was set on fire at the New Road Esso Gas Station.

Dr. Francis Smith - PUP Candidate, Pickstock
"It was probably around 12 midnight when I came here and the personnel from the fire station - the firefighters - were here trying to out the fire. When I came they had already put out the fire."

It is an incredibly dangerous place for a vehicle to catch or be set on fire - first, it's at a gas station - second it's right above the seal for a fuel reservoir.

Dr. Francis Smith
"This is a gas station, and there was a fire on top of a tank. I am not quite sure - even now - what happened."

It could have been an absolute catastrophe - very fortunately though, it was not. Still it is a frightening act of public endangerment - and what appears to be political mischief.

Dr Francis Smith
"There are lots of people who saw that person in that car last night."

Jules Vasquez
"You're saying that they saw someone who is affiliated with the Wilfred Elrington camp?"

Dr. Francis Smith
Of course, that car came by; they parked right here, and there are at least 3 or so persons who saw what happened."

Wilfred Elrington - UDP Candidate, Picktstock
"I think that it is unfortunate that Dr. Smith would make statements of that nature. I would have thought that he would have been sensible enough - and certainly mature enough - to let the police investigation indicate what direction this matter must take."

Dr. Francis Smith
"I am pretty sure that Mr. Elrington won't send anybody to do something like that specifically, but still, we have responsibility to control supporters. And I believe that I am doing a very good job of controlling mine."

Wilfred Elrington
"I had absolutely no knowledge of it. I instructed no one do anything such thing. I have since spoken to my driver, and he was as surprised as I was. He started to call around to find who could have done it, because I think that it was you who told me that somebody named, Brandon something, was suspected of having done it. So I told him that same information, and I heard him calling on the telephone to find out who could this person possibly be. He had no knowledge of it."

Jules Vasquez
"He absolutely disavows this. The name that you gave me, he says that he does not know that person."

Dr. Francis Smith
"Well I guess that's why they say that politics is a dirty game. I would have to take him at his word, but the evidence is there. My car is burnt up."

The car is a 2002 Mercedes Benz - the property of Godfrey Smith - who is Francis Smith's brother. A look at it shows that the entire engine area is burnt out - the vehicle appears to have also been vandalized.

Now police will have to figure out who did it - but for the time being - Wilfred Elrington is pointing the finger right back:

Wilfred Elrington
"I don't want to cast any aspersions on Dr. Smith, but Dr. Smith's behavior has been leading very great doubts in my mind as to his integrity and moral scruples. He has been calling in and making allegations against me that have absolutely no basis. I have refrained from doing anything about it, but when he is going to extent of suggesting that we had anything to do with a criminal activity, and then clearly it does not speak well for him. The little respect that I had tried to have for him has been completely dissipated. Has to be something that he has been manufacturing, and that disappoints me deeply. I was hoping that he would have shown himself to be better his brother. I would want to think that he may be a bit worse."

Jules Vasquez
"You have people who are saying that this is a stunt. This is orchestrated by your own camp to draw attention-"

Dr. Francis Smith
"Like burning up my own car? I know that we are in a difficult area. These are areas that are marginalized and impoverished, and I just think that things can get out of hand, and I would like to appeal to common sense."

Wilfred Elrington
"Smith is not a threat. He just has not done any work in the division. He is not going to win it. He doesn't have a chance in hell to win it, and I think that now he wants to get sympathy on his side."

Dr. Francis Smith
"Well, it demonstrates a total lack of regard for humanity, I would say. It's just simple; I don't think words can describe that. And I would like to appeal politics apart. I am telling my supporters, absolutely, I will not tolerate any kind of retaliation. I do not condone these things. From the onset when my signs were being torn down, I have told them that I do not want to see the opponent's signs torn down, if not, I would get out of this."

Notably the gas station's security camera system was turned off so nothing was captured.

Still, police do have a suspect in custody.

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