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All Political Candidates to Sign Code of Conduct by Friday

By: , February 19, 2016

The Key Point:

Political Ombudsman, Donna Parchment Brown, says that candidates who have not yet signed the Political Code of Conduct are expected to do so by Friday (February 19).
All Political Candidates to Sign Code of Conduct by Friday
Photo: Michael Sloley
Political Ombudsman, Donna Parchment Brown (2nd left), shares a moment with (from left): reggae artist, Dalton Harris; Producer, Penthouse Records, Donovan Germain; and Finance Director, Jamaica Reggae Industry Association, Junior Lincoln, after presenting them with copies of the Political Code of Conduct and Political Ombudsman (Interim) Act. The documents were handed over at a meeting with members of the music fraternity at the Office of the Political Ombudsman located at Duke Street, Kingston today (February 18).

The Facts

  • he was speaking at a meeting with members of the music fraternity at her Duke Street office today (Feb. 18).
  • The Political Code of Conduct governs the actions of the Jamaica Labour Party, People’s National Party and all other legitimate political parties in Jamaica and applies to all officials of political parties.

The Full Story

Political Ombudsman, Donna Parchment Brown, says that candidates who have not yet signed the Political Code of Conduct are expected to do so by Friday (February 19).

She was speaking at a meeting with members of the music fraternity at her Duke Street office today (Feb. 18).

“Why this is important is that we have a few issues out there that are breaches or potential breaches of the Code,” Mrs. Parchment Brown said.

“It is about integrity, because when you sign this thing and promise to behave this way, it is not unreasonable for people to expect a candidate to live up to their word,” she added.

“Also you can’t distance yourself from your supporters, because if you take the benefit of their votes, you must also take responsibility for the (wrong),” she noted further.

A release from the Political Ombudsman on Wednesday (February 17) noted that the majority of candidates for the February 25 General Elections have signed the Certificate signifying their commitment to uphold the Agreement and Declaration on political conduct.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Parchment Brown stated that her Office will be writing to the leaders of the political parties proposing a meeting to discuss a number of issues regarding the General Election.

“(We are going)….to ask them to make statements from their platform very clearly identifying certain conduct and saying ‘we will not support that conduct, we do not want that conduct by our members’. So, those recommendations I am hoping to send to them today,” she stated.

The Political Code of Conduct governs the actions of the Jamaica Labour Party, People’s National Party and all other legitimate political parties in Jamaica and applies to all officials of political parties.

The code stipulates eight principles. They are: non-violence and non-intimidation; safety of private and public property; avoidance of confrontation; public utterances; freedom of access; avoidance of defacing of buildings and installations; code of ethics and political tribalism.

Last Updated: February 23, 2016

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