Holness castigates civil society groups amid ECJ-ombudsman controversy

By: kimone.francis@gleanerjm.com

Image caption: Prime Minister Andrew Holness (centre) speaks to journalists on Thursday, flanked by Jamaica Labour Party candidates Delroy Williams, Christopher Townsend, and Glendon Salmon, who are contesting divisions in his St Andrew West Central constituency.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness has criticised civil society bodies over what he says is their failure to hold the parliamentary Opposition accountable, noting that the group flip-flopped in its position on the Electoral Commission of Jamaica (ECJ) subsuming the Office of the Political Ombudsman.

Holness said that the Opposition initially agreed with the Government’s position of having the nine commissioners of the ECJ perform the role of the political ombudsman.

However, he said that the Opposition has made an about-turn with its current position being to have a separate body adjudicate over election-related issues and disputes long term.

The Opposition has argued that having the ECJ assume this role may taint the organisation’s image and reputation.

In the interim, it has proposed that a panel of three eminent persons be established to referee issues that may arise ahead of the February 26 local government elections.

Holness said the proposal is a departure from discussions had and communicated in Parliament.

“Where is the civil society that would point out that the Opposition led the Government to believe that everything was fine? They had agreed and then all of a sudden they changed their mind, and they are allowed to say it’s autocratic and dictatorial,” the prime minister questioned while speaking to journalists on Thursday after nominations closed for the election.

OPPOSITION’S STRATEGY

He said that the Opposition’s strategy is to create a caricature of him and his government as autocratic and dictatorial, although “it can’t stick”.

He said that Jamaica is the most democratic it has ever been.

Holness questioned how governments would function effectively if, at every step of the way, as he puts it, the Opposition is “very opportunistic and strategic” in attempting to delay progress if allowed to.

“It worries me that they would have changed their mind just before an election. So we would be going into an election without any process of an ombuds,” Holness said.

“I think the country should look into that and look behind the motive for the Opposition’s delay tactic,” he added.

The Senate on Friday rubber-stamped the Political Ombudsman (Amendment) Act, 2024, with government senators voting in favour.

It means that the Office of the Political Ombudsman will be integrated into the ECJ.

The Office of the Political Ombudsman has been vacant since November 2022, when Donna Parchment Brown’s term came to an end.