ECJ appointment of political ombudsman shrouded in mystery, says NIA

 

Principal Director of National Integrity Action, Danielle Archer, says there remains more questions than answers following statements relating to the appointment of a political ombudsman. 

 

Justice Minister Delroy Chuck issued a statement that an individual has been appointed to act as political ombudsman. The Electoral Commission of Jamaica last year assumed the role of political ombudsman, which raised concerns relating to conflict of interest.

 

Speaking Thursday on Radio Jamaica's Beyond the Headlines, Ms. Archer said the matter remains shrouded in mystery.

 

"There does seem to be some semblance of confusion between the minister and the ECJ in the carrying out of the responsibiliy. So, it may very well be that he is attempting to deflect. What's the purpose of the deflection?... The purpose of the deflection might very well be because they have hunkered down, they know they have a problem, but they don't wish to resolve the problem by etching backwards, so they're moving forward jealously."

 

Constitutional attorney Dr. Lloyd Barnett believes the fallout from having the Office of the Political Ombudsman subsumed into the ECJ will only get worse. 

 

"What they have done is to really demobilise the Political Ombudsman's office by putting it in a framework which is completely opposed to the nature of that office it's coming from. And it was ignored. And now that we are in the election period, the manifestations of the error are becoming more and more obvious, and it's going to get worse," he warned.