Director of Elections clarifies timeline for election

 

 

The Electoral Office of Jamaica has  sought to clarify the timeline in which the next general election must be held. 

 

The opposition People's National Party has claimed that it would not support a delay in the holding of the polls. 

 

But Director of Elections Glasspole Brown, speaking Tuesday evening on Radio Jamaica's Balancing Justice, declared that the constitution is clear on the matter.

 

Noting that the life of the current parliament ends on September 15, he said the constitution dictates that, if the election is not "called" by that date, "then the parliament will be automatically prorogued, and therefore the constitution provides for election to be held within three months (of parliament being prorogued), and that will bring it down to December."

 

He stressed, however, that it has long been the practice that "prior to the expiry of the life of the parliament, the Prime Minister usually calls the election, and we anticipate that that will happen in this case."

 

Mr Brown added that preparations are far advanced for successful execution of the upcoming parliamentary general elections. 

 

He said the Electoral Office of Jamaica is closing in on its target of recruiting 50 thousand election day workers.

 

He said the EOJ is still finalising the siting of voting centres.