The Advocates Network has condemned the passing of The Political Ombudsman (Interim) (Amendment) Act, 2024 in the face of widespread concerns about the need for an independent Political Ombudsman (PO) to investigate political behaviour and rhetoric.
The advocacy group stated in a press release that these concerns have heightened since the Local Government elections were announced for February 26, 2024.
“The AN fears that the ugliest forms of political tribalism will likely manifest themselves during this election period without a dedicated, institutional focus on regulating the political environment and mediating political disputes,” the advocacy group stated.
“The viral video and other incidents of alleged political violence and intimidation in Trinityville, St Thomas, currently being investigated by the police, have worsened this fear,” the AN stated.
The video referenced by the AN shows a brawl involving the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) caretaker-candidate for the Trinityville division in St Thomas, Dean Jones who pulled a gun on a man wearing an orange t-shirt as they got into a physical altercation in Trinityville, St Thomas on Monday. The incident has since sparked public outrage and concerns that both the upcoming local and general elections could spark politically motivated violence in communities.
The Advocacy Network said The Political Ombudsman (Interim) Act, 2002, explicitly states that it should “Continue in force until provision is made in the Constitution for the establishment of a Political Ombudsman.”
“This tone-deaf, ill-timed decision to make this amendment amid political campaigning is genuinely troubling. In addition to carrying out its mandate to supervise elections, the Electoral Commission of Jamaica (ECJ) must now undertake a new role as PO in political campaigning. This unplanned, dual responsibility now raises new concerns about the capacity of the ECJ to carry out its original mandate to “safeguard the democratic foundations of Jamaica” by enabling “free and fair elections,” the group stated.