The People's National Party's (PNP's) Roger Clarke and the Opposition Jamaica Labour Party's Russel Hammond have done the right thing by instructing their supporters to remove political flags from inside the constituency.

This suggests that both men - vying to replace sitting member of parliament for Central Westmoreland Dr Karl Blythe in the upcoming parliamentary elections - have achieved an appropriate level of political maturity.

The flags have been erected on utility poles in areas, such as Dalling Street, Hartford, Petersfield, Grotto and Ricketts streets for several weeks, in a clear breach of the Political Code of Conduct agreed to by both parties.

Interestingly, in several areas of these communities, PNP and JLP flags were posted in close proximity on the same utility poles. Although this, arguably, could suggest that there is a certain level of political maturity and friendly rivalry among supporters on both sides of the political divide, there is always the possibility that the flags could eventually lead to political tension, and as such, should not have been put up.
There is much debate in the constituency about which party was first in erecting the flags, but Clarke and Hammond undoubtedly are fully aware of their existence.

The battle to see which of the two parties could erect more flags in the constituency, it would appear, was more beneficial to them than preserving the political code. Both are experienced and well-loved politicians, and as leaders should have known better.

Clarke is a senior Cabinet minister, a vice-president emeritus of the ruling PNP, and has been a member of parliament for 18 years. Hammond is a former MP for Central Westmoreland and outstanding businessman.

These two candidates, however, are not alone in breaching that aspect of the political code of conduct, certainly not in western Jamaica.

In the constituency of North Trelawny where the JLP's Dennis Meadows is seeking to wrest the seat from sitting MP Dr Patrick Harris (PNP), there are a large number of JLP flags in the Clarks Town, Kinloss and Duavale communities.

Meadows and JLP councillor for the Sherwood Content Division, Fernandez Smith, as well as key party functionaries are aware of the existence of these flags. After all, many of them, including Meadows and Smith, were among members of the JLP who toured the area on the weekend to drum up support for the party.

The aspiring MP should now move post-haste, like Hammond and Clarke, to instruct his political supporters to remove the offending flags. But if the supporters do comply, what measures are now in place to prevent the return of the flags?

And if they do return, what will be the punishment for the party supporters, candidates and the party? It seems to me that as a nation, ways must be found to punish the parties when they breach the political code.

The ordinary citizens, too, need to be made aware of the tenets of the political code. Failing to do this could lead to political tension and violence, as the political campaign for state power heats up.