Country Will Benefit from Integrating Political Ombudsman into ECJ

Deputy Leader of Government Business in the Upper House, Senator the Hon. Aubyn Hill, says that having the Electoral Commission of Jamaica (ECJ) assume the responsibilities of the Political Ombudsman is in the nation’s interest.

He said the Government believes that there is greater benefit from having the ECJ, with nine individuals drawn from different segments of the society, applying their varied skills to the conduct of the work of the Office of the Political Ombudsman versus the retention of a single person in the office.

“It leads to greater enforcement of the recommendations of the Political Ombudsman, as there is greater persuasive power by having representatives from the two main political parties, which will, in turn, give the recommendations of the ECJ greater legitimacy and greater likelihood of compliance,” he said.

He added that the prominence and stature achieved by the ECJ locally, regionally and internationally is the strongest reason for the functions of the Office of the Political Ombudsman to be managed effectively by the ECJ.

Senator Hill, who is Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, was piloting the Political Ombudsman (Interim) (Amendment) Act, 2024 through the Upper House on Friday ( February 9), which was passed without amendments.

All eight Government Senators who were present voted for the legislation while the six Opposition Senators in attendance voted against its passage.

Senator Hill said the decision to have the ECJ assume the role of the Political Ombudsman comes after years of discussion and consultation.

“This decision has not been taken lightly or without true consideration,” he said.

He added that centralisation of the services will allow for a more fulsome examination of matters brought to the Office of the Political Ombudsman, as these matters will be scrutinised through the individual and collective lenses of the nine members of the ECJ, who are required to exercise fairness and who are bound by the Electoral Commission Interim Act to perform their functions within specified parameters he added.

The Office of the Political Ombudsman in Jamaica has been vacant since November 15, 2022.