PSOJ concerned about children painting sidewalk green in PM's constituency
Published:Wednesday | January 3, 2024 | 8:54 PM
The Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ) is expressing concern regarding a recent video showing children painting sidewalks green in Prime Minister Andrew Holness' West Central St Andrew constituency.
The PSOJ expressed its concern in a media release on Wednesday in which it also pressed for reinstatement of a political ombudsman.
"It is the firm stance of the PSOJ that our children, as some of the most vulnerable members of society, deserve complete protection from any forms of exploitation, including those that resemble child labour or place them in potentially compromising scenarios," the private sector group said.
"The involvement of young, impressionable minds in evidently politically charged activities undermines their innocence and reflects poorly on our societal values, " it continued.
The PSOJ said it was particularly concerned by the "evident political divisiveness" that this act could foster.
The PSOJ also reiterated its call for political leaders and affiliates to avoid inciting disharmony and discord within the society.
It said the incident highlights the need for a political ombudsman, equipped with the authority to implement disciplinary measures against actions that contradict the political code of conduct.
"The role of such an office is critical in maintaining the integrity of our political processes and ensuring that all actions by political entities align with the ethical standards expected by the Jamaican people," the PSOJ said.
In November 2022, former Political Ombudsman Donna Parchment Brown's seven-year tenure in office ended, but, despite pronouncements by the government that the role of the ombudsman would be subsumed by the Electoral Commission of Jamaica, more than one year later the administration's commitment has failed to materialise.
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