Justice Minister disappointed ECJ yet to operationalise role to deal with political misconduct

 

Justice Minister Delroy Chuck has expressed disappointment that the Electoral Commission of Jamaica (ECJ) has failed to clearly establish its role as an independent authority that deals with political misconduct. 

 

This comes amid an ongoing debate about reinstating the Office of the Political Ombudsman in light of several political incidents. 

 

The Office of the Political Ombudsman was integrated into the Electoral Commission of Jamaica last year, but a commissioner on the ECJ and People's National Party (PNP) General Secretary Dr. Dayton Campbell last week revealed that there was no plan for how the body is to operate as a political ombudsman. 

 

While underscoring the government's decision to have the Electoral Commission of Jamaica subsume the functions of the political ombudsman, Minister Chuck said the ECJ has the capacity to handle these incidents. 

 

"I am a little disappointed, however, that up to now the ECJ has not indicated to the public the process and procedure whereby political misconduct can be reported and investigated. To the best of my knowledge, the similar amount of money of about $60 million that used to manage and operate the political ombudsman before was allocated to the ECJ in order to carry out the function and role of the political ombudsman," he outlined. 

 

The minister has suggested the appointment of a Director of Political Conduct, which he says could effectively address the issues relating to misconduct and fairness.

 

"The ECJ could appoint a Director of Political Conduct...who would take in all the complaints of political misconduct or breach of the political code of conduct, and that person would investigate and report back to the ECJ, which consists of four independent members and representatives from the political parties, who would make a final decision and direct how the political misconduct can be corrected. It would have that sort of moral persuasive force," he reasoned.