Gov't uses majority to approve ECJ taking over political ombudsman roles

The Government has used its superior numbers in Parliament to pass a proposed law that will see the Office of the Public Ombudsman subsumed into the Electoral Commission of Jamaica (ECJ), despite strong objections by the Opposition.

The Opposition called for a divide on the Political Ombudsman (Interim) Act 2024. 

When the vote was taken, there were 21 approvals from the Government's side. All opposition members present, seven, noted against. 

Before the legislation was taken through committee stage, Justice Minister Delroy Chuck made a statement to the House of Representatives reiterating the administration's intention to pass the bill.

In his statement, Chuck said the Government “fervently disagreed” with submissions from the Opposition that the ECJ should not take on the role of the political ombudsman to adjudicate on matters involving partisan political activities.

However, Opposition Leader Mark Golding said  he could not support the bill, describing it as “bad policy and bad law”.

“It is not going to have our support. It is an unworkable proposal."

Golding argued that it was problematic to have the commissioners of the ECJ deciding partisan issues and the actions of the Government were "disgraceful"

But Chuck insisted that he was confident that the commissioners "will result in more impactful recommendations". 

A vote was suspended last week following outcries from the opposition and government lawmaker Karl Samuda. 

Samuda was not in the chamber when the vote was taken. 

The bill will now go to the Senate for approval before becoming law. 

The change comes weeks before local government elections on February 26. 

- Edmond Campbell

Follow The Gleaner on X, formerly Twitter, and Instagram @JamaicaGleaner and on Facebook @GleanerJamaica. Send us a message on WhatsApp at 1-876-499-0169 or email us at onlinefeedback@gleanerjm.com or editors@gleanerjm.com.