Both Mavado and Vybz Kartel were released today after being questioned by Police / Kartel and Mavado ARRESTED and together in jail / Tivoli residents upset over spray-painting of ‘PNP’-flavoured graff

THE police are investigating the spray-painting of People's National Party (PNP) slogans on several buildings in Tivoli Gardens, the West Kingston community that is fiercely loyal to the ruling Jamaica Labour Party (JLP).

Residents of the community said they woke up yesterday morning to find several walls plastered in orange paint, some with the letters 'PNP'

The act sparked an immediate visit from Prime Minister and Member of Parliament for West Kingston Bruce Golding and Councillor Desmond McKenzie, who toured the area as dozens of angry residents clad in green T-shirts — the trademark colour of the JLP — demonstrated and voiced their disgust at the graffiti.

"We will not leave any stones unturned until we get to the bottom of this," Renford Rowe, head of the Tivoli Gardens Police Post, told the Observer yesterday.

Rowe warned that strong disciplinary action would be taken against anyone, police included, if any of them were found guilty of partaking in the illegal act.

The senior policeman made the statement as he tried to calm the angry residents, who said they felt offended by the graffiti that sent a wrong signal that they were switching political allegiance.

"Can you imagine how shocked I was when I woke up to find the place spray-painted in with the letters 'PNP'," said one woman.

"PNP can't get yah so; JLP we say for life," shouted one man.

During his tour yesterday, Golding raised questions as to how the incident happened when the community was under 24-hour protection by police and soldiers.

"I will not make any speculation, but will wait until the investigations are complete," Golding said.

But one woman, who shared the prime minister's sentiments, blamed members of the security forces for the 'offensive' graffiti.

"After the attack on the community people could hardly move, so it is puzzling that someone could come in the area and do this and the police don't see," the woman said.

The woman was speaking of the May incursion by members of the security forces to apprehend former Tivoli don Christopher 'Dudus' Coke to face drug-trafficking and gunrunning charges in the United States.

More than 70 persons, including one soldier, were killed during the battle which saw gunmen in a barricaded Tivoli Gardens trading bullets with police and soldiers over two days.

Coke is now in a New York prison awaiting trial.