Opposition tells PM to release money for voter reverification

The People’s National Party (PNP) is renewing its call for Prime Minister Andrew Holness to immediately provide the Electoral Office of Jamaica (EOJ) with the funding needed to carry out a re-verification of the Voter’s List, if it is to take place before the next elections.

In a statement today, PNP General Secretary, Julian Robinson, said the party took note of a commitment given over the weekend by Prime Minister Holness that funds will be provided to the EOJ to complete the exercise before the next General Elections, which are constitutionally due by February 2021.

Robinson said according to news report, the Prime Minister claimed that the EOJ will be provided with the money at the appropriate time.

However, Robinson, who is also an Opposition member on the Electoral Commission of Jamaica, said the party believes that the appropriate time would be the current financial year, which ends on Saturday.

The PNP general secretary argued that funds would need to be allocated to the EOJ in the 2018-19 financial year to allow it to begin the preparations for the re-verification exercise, which it estimates can take up to two years.

Robinson further argued that for the Prime Minister’s commitment to be meaningful, he must provide the funding in the present budget so the exercise can begin without further delay.

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