MoBay’s mayor gets extension to respond to political ombudsman
Published:Thursday | May 8, 2025 | 12:09 AM
The Office of the Political Ombudsman (OPO) has extended the May 6 deadline for Mayor of Montego Bay Richard Vernon to respond to an alleged breach of the Political Code of Conduct.
In a letter dated May 5, 2025 to the OPO, the mayor’s legal counsel requested that the deadline be extended to May 14 this year, arguing that the matter was before the court and scheduled for hearing on May 6.
On April 25, the political ombudsman wrote to the mayor, requesting a written explanation of the actions that resulted in the removal of political campaign signs in Montego Bay which belong to prospective candidates of the People’s National Party (PNP).
Tensions have been mounting between Vernon and prospective candidates of the PNP, who had complained that the mayor, without any legal basis, removed their posters.
Three prospective candidates – Andre Haughton, Janice Allen and Allan Bernard – have since filed a claim in the Supreme Court seeking judicial review of the St James Municipal Corporation’s decision to remove their campaign posters in St James.
The court action, which was filed in late April, named the municipal corporation as the respondent.
In addition to a judicial review of the decision, they are asking the court to quash the decision of the corporation to remove their advertising boards.
The political aspirants also want a review of the motion passed by the finance committee of the municipal corporation on April 9, 2025, prohibiting the display of advertising, pending an announcement of elections; an order barring the corporation from interfering in the applicants’ political advertising; and an order compelling the corporation to return, restore and reinstate their advertising.
The three are also seeking general and aggravated damages.
In its letter to Vernon, dated April 25, the OPO outlined that the current period constitutes an active campaign period in the lead-up to the general election, which is constitutionally due in September 2025.
Further, the OPO said guidance on the commencement of the campaign period is provided under Section 2(1) of the Representation of the People Act, 2016.
Under the section, campaign period means ‘in relation to a general election’, and commences on the earlier of either “( a) the day immediately following the last day of the period of 54 months from the commencement of the term of office of the Government (or such other period as the ECJ may, by order, subject to affirmative resolution, prescribe); or (b) the day on which the date for an election is officially announced by or on behalf of the prime minister.”