NIA calls for political ombudsman to investigate 'misuse' of public resources by JLP

 

Watchdog group National Integrity Action (NIA) is expressing grave concern over what it says is the partisan misuse of public resources by the governing Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) for its election campaign. 

 

Principal Director Danielle Archer says government-sponsored advertisements financed by state agencies that are partisan political messaging disguised as government information undermine institutional neutrality, corrode public trust and distort the democratic landscape. 

 

The NIA says it has also taken note of videos that have emerged showing newly acquired school buses funded by taxpayers to support national development being used in political activities affiliated with the JLP.

 

Ms. Archer says, despite the defence put forward by government ministers, the misuse of public assets raises serious concerns about breaches of Jamaica's campaign finance laws, which expressly prohibit public bodies from contributing to political parties and candidate campaigns. 

 

"As a government minister, you represent both those who vote for you and those who don't vote for you. And so until an election is called, public resources are not supposed to be used to uplift, magnify or promote a government minister. So people can see these ads and they will determine that it's actually an ad on behalf of the Jamaica Labour Party as opposed to providing information for services or projects or advertisements that are being done for the benefit of the public. 

 

The fact that it is being done at this pre-election moment, when we all know it's about the campaign season, in the absence of an election being caused, is the misuse of taxpayers funds under the guise that it is providing government information," she asserted.

 

The NIA is calling for the Electoral Commission of Jamaica, in its capacity as political ombudsman, to investigate whether the concerns are justified.  

 

"So, they have to do what they must do, and as such we call on them to conduct an investigation into the use of publicly-funded advertisements and assets for partisan purposes following the campaign financing regulations. Now any government minister can come out and say it is not so. That does not mean it is true. What we have is an oversight body which we look at and look for and hope that they will act in accordance with the regulations and provide us with the facts and confirm whether or not what we see is in fact the misuse of public funds, or confirm whether in fact the ministers are right that they are not misappropriating the funds for their own advancement of their political future."

 

Local Government Minister and Deputy JLP leader Desmond McKenzie has said the government has the right to promote its achievements in the media, while Transport Minister Daryl Vaz said despite the enthusiasm generated among supporters of both major political parties to the new school buses, he has strongly advised that every effort should be made not to politicise the bus tour.