The Electoral Fee of Jamaica (ECJ) says it has been actively discharging the features of the Political Ombudsman.
The ECJ, in a press release on Saturday, acknowledged that since assuming the position in February 2024, it has established a devoted administrative unit inside the Workplace of the Political Ombudsman and has commenced a assessment of the present Political Code of Conduct.
Additional, the fee mentioned it has carried out mechanisms for accepting experiences on breaches of the Political Code of Conduct.
This consists of, in keeping with the fee, an internet portal to just accept experiences together with pictures, audio, and video recording by way of the ECJ’s web site; and a devoted e-mail tackle and phone line, in addition to the toll-free and WhatsApp quantity by means of the ECJ to get info.
The ECJ famous that it has obtained and addressed experiences and complaints from the general public, including that it wrote to the final secretaries of political events relating to the elimination of flags and paraphernalia following the Native Authorities Elections.
Moreover, it mentioned it has ready for future implementation a public schooling programme on the position of the Political Ombudsman and the significance of citizen participation, and established a community of legislation enforcement officers throughout the island to help within the execution of the legislation.
Concerning the features of the Political Ombudsman, the ECJ mentioned it has sought to streamline and enhance the operations of the workplace, noting that the unit is tasked with duty for coordinating the actions of the workplace, together with implementing mechanisms for accepting, processing, and responding to complaints from the general public.
The unit is headed by the ECJ’s Registrar of Political Events.
The title of the person was not disclosed.
“That particular person would be the chief liaison between the general public and the ECJ’s members, who, collectively, represent the Political Ombudsman.”
The ECJ acknowledged that it has undertaken the features of the Political Ombudsman utilizing the sources allotted for the administration of its operations, noting that no extra funding has been offered for finishing up the actions associated to the Political Ombudsman.
The ECJ mentioned that for the reason that graduation of the present electoral marketing campaign interval, two complaints have been obtained by the workplace up to now: one in relation to the location of indicators in Montego Bay, St James and the opposite in regards to the elimination of paraphernalia in South Jap St Elizabeth, which it mentioned are being addressed by the Political Ombudsman.
“The ECJ recognises the essential import of the Political Ombudsman Act, as political conduct does influence the democratic course of. It should perform its duties as long as the Parliament requires it so to do.”
The best way to submit a grievance to the Political Ombudsman:
On-line: www.ecj.com.jm
E-mail: ecjombudsman@ecj.com.jm
Letter/ Go to: Workplace of the Political Ombudsman at 46 Duke Avenue, Kingston.
Name: 876-754-5845.
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