Commonwealth Secretary-General Baroness Patricia Scotland, the first woman to hold the post, will headline today’s launch by the Office of the Political Ombudsman of a historic report reviewing the extraordinary 2020 General Elections Campaign.

Baroness Scotland was born in Dominica and is the second person from the Caribbean to serve as Commonwealth Secretary-General. As Secretary-General, Baroness Scotland is responsible for promoting and protecting the Commonwealth’s values, representing the Commonwealth publicly as well as the management of the Commonwealth Secretariat.

The virtual event can be viewed on the O.P.O.’s Facebook Page beginning at 10am on June 2. www.facebook.com/JAPoliticalOmbudsman/

We are delighted Baroness Scotland has generously agreed to make herself available,” said Political Ombudsman Donna Parchment Brown, adding that “given her experience as Secretary-General, Baroness Scotland has a wealth of experience to share about how countries like Jamaica can build and cement key democratic activities such as campaigning.”

The report to be launched on June 2 is the first of its kind in Jamaica’s history. “Next year, 2022, will mark the 20th anniversary of the Office of the Political Ombudsman,” explained Political Ombudsman Hon. Parchment Brown.  She added that “In that context, we are reviewing findings and recommendations from the 2020 general election campaign but also discussing the future role of the Political Ombudsman’s Office in relation to its mandate, funding and legislative changes.” The recommendations cover a range of other issues including political and civic education and the enforcement of rules for politics. In light of COVID-19, the report also examines how election campaign activities were conducted in the midst of the pandemic. The campaign review report was compiled from a series of fora hosted by the OPO last year. In addition, expert interviews were also conducted by the Office after the general election on September 3, 2020.

About the Office of the Political Ombudsman

The Office of Political Ombudsman is a Commission of Parliament established in 2002 to investigate any action taken by a political party, its members or supporters which constitutes, is likely to constitute a breach of the Agreement and Declaration on Political Conduct in force among political parties in Jamaica or could prejudice good relations between supporters of various political parties.  The code is intended to promote a political culture which emphases the propriety, correctness, transparency and honesty of political parties, their officials and adherents behaviour.

Link to audio bites of the Political Ombudsman: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1ihvXlJnB-c48sbuej2pmVXLLWdOnUQpa?usp=sharing

Contacts:

Archibald Gordon Communications

Email: archibald.gordon@gmail.com   876-294-1100.

Office of the Political Ombudsman

Email: politicalombudsman@opo.gov.jm 876 922-8653.

www.opo.gov.jm

The Office of the Political Ombudsman is issuing the findings of its 2020 General Election Campaign Review Report a first in Jamaica’s history. This follows what can be considered the most unusual and difficult campaign period in the country’s recent past given the advent of the COVID-19 Pandemic, and the first time implementation of the Campaign Finance Legislation.

The report will be launched during a virtual event on June 2, that will include recommendations for improvements to Jamaica’s election campaign activities, particularly those related to the Office of the Political Ombudsman (OPO).  The virtual event can be viewed on the O.P.O.’s Facebook page www.facebook.com/JAPoliticalOmbudsman/.

The campaign review report follows a review of the campaign through interviews with experts and other stakeholders conducted by the Office of the Political Ombudsman between October and November, after the September 3, 2020 General Elections. Findings, lessons learnt and recommendations for action emerged from the robust discussions and were used to compile the findings and recommendations found in the report.

“The recommendations cover a range of issues including the question of how election rules should be enforced, how sanctions/penalties should be applied, and the enforcement role of the Office of the Political Ombudsman,” said Political Ombudsman Hon. Donna Parchment Brown.

The Political Ombudsman said the report also addresses questions about the role of the Office over the coming years including funding and legislative support. “It discusses how we can cement the gains made since the OPO was established to monitor campaign activities which have in the past been subject to political violence,” she explained.

The 2020 general election campaign was held in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic limiting face-to-face gatherings and that forced other changes to the general election campaign. Mrs. Parchment Brown said those issues are also addressed in the report given their historic impact on election campaign activities.

The opening speaker at the virtual event is the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth of Nations, the Right Honourable Baroness Patricia Scotland who is the first woman to hold the post. The Commonwealth Secretary-General is responsible for promoting and protecting the Commonwealth’s values, representing the Commonwealth publicly as well as the management of the Commonwealth Secretariat.

About the Office of the Political Ombudsman:

The Office of Political Ombudsman is a Commission of Parliament established in 2002 to investigate any action taken by a political party, its members or supporters which constitutes, is likely to constitute a breach of the Agreement and Declaration on Political Conduct in force among political parties in Jamaica or could prejudice good relations between supporters of various political parties.  The code is intended to promote a political culture which emphases the propriety, correctness, transparency and honesty of political parties, their officials and adherents behaviour.

Link to audio bites of the Political Ombudsman: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1eDZsNVd8Lz6Nznw-RlkIswPBlvTy-GH7?usp=sharing

Contacts:

Archibald Gordon Communications

Email: archibald.gordon@gmail.com   876-294-1100.

Office of the Political Ombudsman

Email: politicalombudsman@opo.gov.jm 876 922-8653.

www.opo.gov.jm

The Office of the Political Ombudsman is a fair and neutral Commission of Parliament tasked with the duty to investigate breaches of the Code of Conduct by political party members and their supporters.

I unequivocally condemn the attack made against the political activist on the team of Mr. Pearnel Charles Jr. in Clarendon early this morning. I wish him a swift and complete recovery. I encourage all Jamaicans to be reminded of our motto “Out of Many One People” and for us to strive to remain grounded and unified.

It is with regret therefore, that I have to comment on the statements made by Mr. Charles Jr. this morning on Nationwide 90 FM. My statement is on twitter. That deplorable act of violence is to be condemned by all as I said earlier. In these times all candidates knowing the impact of statements they make should ensure that they do not undermine the public confidence in Jamaica’s democratic process when persons are already in a state of distrust.

I have already launched an investigation into the killing of Mr. Paul Henry and the JCF has issued a statement suggesting that they are also pursuing several leads not related to politics. The attack this morning to another JLP worker is being investigated by this Office and the Police.

I will be on the ground this week.

An article in the daily Gleaner of August 17, 2020 refers.

I received a report on the matter from Councillor McDonald of the Toll Gate division on Saturday

August 15 at 8:56 p.m. He advised that the JLP candidate for Clarendon South Western, Mr Kent Gammon and his party was prevented from campaigning in Havanna Heights by PNP supporters who were in the road shouting and making it hard for vehicles to go through. I met with candidate Mr Cousins by telephone at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday August 16. He confirmed that the conduct of supporters was unacceptable and that he had visited the community and advised the citizens that all candidates and their supporters should be free to enter the community and should not be impeded in any way.

Mr Cousins agreed to advise Councillor McDonald of the corrective action taken. The Office of the Political Ombudsman informed Councillor McDonald, who was aware that Mr Cousins had visited the area of this incident, at 4:06 p.m. on Sunday August 16. There was no report of any physical threat against any individual.

The matter is closed.

I recently had a conversation with a gentleman who stoutly defended the practice of ‘vote buying’ as simply voters taking advantage of a business opportunity.

Previously I have spoken to a few other Jamaicans who asserted that they only want their $5,000 payment and that corruption is not a big deal.

Jamaica’s political leaders in the Parliament have passed legislation to assert their opposition to corruption, to vote buying by whatever means and to make such actions subject to fines and penalties, as well as promoting a Code for corrective actions by political party leaders on the Recommendation of the Political Ombudsman under the Political Ombudsman (Interim) Act, which can be viewed at www.opo.gov.jm.

Corruption simply means doing or failing to do any act so as to obtain an illicit benefit for the person or someone else.

Corruption, according to a recent poll is only of concern to 7% of the public. This either means that the moral, ethical, social and economic eyes of our people are not working or we are resigned to become a country where wrong doing by the ‘bigger heads’ is fine and we accept our position as being unworthy of the respect and honest service of those we elect and employ.

Each case must be looked at and dealt with forcefully and without excuse. Reference to how previous or other acts of stealing from the public of our money, our land, our equipment, our rights is a red herring or smoke screen which lines up partisan interest and responses so to prevent full action.

The Representation of the People Act (www.japarliament.gov.jm) which had the support of both major political parties in its passage through Parliament, provides at S70 for a number of election offences.

Section 91 makes bribery treating and undue influence, offences punishable on summary conviction before a Resident Magistrate (now Parish Judge).

The penalty at S93 for each offence is a fine of between twenty thousand and eighty thousand dollars or imprisonment with or without hard labour for a term of three to five years.

Bribery S91 – including (directly or indirectly by yourself or an agent) means inducing– any person to vote or refrain from voting in exchange for a benefit.

Treating S91 – includes every elector who corruptly accepts food, drink, entertainment or provision in exchange for voting or refraining from voting.

Undue Influence S94 – includes impeding or preventing free exercise of the right of any person to vote by threat, force, duress etc.

These provisions give legal force to the provision set out at Apendix 1 in the Agreement and Declaration on Political Conduct (Code), www.opo.gov.jm which provides inter alia:

85a Duke Street, Kingston, Jamaica, Tel. 876 922-8653/922-0317 Email: politicalombudsman@opo.gov.jm NEW www.opo.gov.jm

1.(f)(i) Candidates or others acting on behalf of candidates:

Must not use funds derived from any source, public or private to improperly influence electoral choices

The use of unauthorized public and road works such as playfields, bushing, marling are opportunities for candidates and their surrogates to put money into the hands of potential voters under the guise of employment and to suggest to the voters that road and other works are a down payment being done to encourage them to select the candidate involved.

These actions and other breaches of the Code and law, should be reported to the Political Ombudsman, the Electoral Commission, Integrity Commission or the Police as appropriate, so that action can be taken through party leaders and the Courts to hold those in breach to account.

I wish every Jamaican a renewed sense of confidence, honour and duty towards Jamaica Land We Love as we celebrate our Emancipation and Independence.

The OPO believes that every citizen has the responsibility to participate in the building of a free and just society, rooted in the central and uninfringeable dignity of a person. The youth, as part of the citizenry, must have a voice in decisions that affect them and as they become stakeholders and change agents in their communities and organizations, they bring perspectives, knowledge and relationships that lead to better decisions and more productive action.

Jamaica has a wealth of social and national organisations dedicated to promoting youth interests. These organizations form a network of knowledge sharing and learning. It is through youth engagement that the skills of active citizenship that contributes positively to the strengthening of society are taught.

The Political Awareness and Respect Initiative (PARI), is a key element of the Office of the Political Ombudsman’s (OPO) public outreach campaign, and comprises a team of young people who have agreed to collaborate with the OPO in undertaking to engage with their peers to work towards strengthening Jamaica’s democratic architecture, as well as to get them to speak on issues around politics, democracy, good governance and the Rule of Law.

Among the fundamental expectations of the collaboration are:

• An increased public awareness of the Office of the Political Ombudsman and its mandate.
• Building and strengthening partnerships with other youth organizations, national groups and informal associations.
• Promoting youth participation in governance

PARI was developed jointly by the OPO and key youth leaders following consultations since 2016. PARI members were selected from social and national groups the three counties of the island, Cornwall, Middlesex and Surrey. These groups included the National Youth Parliament of Jamaica (NYPJ), National Youth Council of Jamaica (NYCJ) and the Student Unions from numerous Universities. The main criteria in considering eligibility for membership is age. A potential member must be between the ages of 17years to 30 years.

In March 2020 the group met and established Rules of Engagement, Expectations and Key Strategies for advancement.

Rules of Engagement

The following were agreed on:

• Meetings to be held once monthly
• A Whatsapp group created to facilitate communication outside of meeting times.
• Correspondences to be sent via email following notices in the Whatsapp group.
• To actively engage with the various social media platforms and website of the OPO.

Key Strategies:

• A 4 week listening tour (face-to-face and on social media platforms), to ascertain the needs and interests of target audiences;
• An outreach program focused on soft-selling key messages about democracy through group engagement (Quizzes and Sketches)
• Training for PARI leaders on effective presentation skills, active listening and reporting.

Action Points:

• To strengthen partnership between the Office of the Political Ombudsman and the Commonwealth Secretariat
• Engage in strengthening democracy
• Assist youths in learning to build up institutions

Political Ombudsman, Donna Parchment Brown, commends the Parliament on the development of a bipartisan committee in the face of Covid19.

“We need all hands on deck. No green or orange shirts now but Jamaicans caring for one another pooling our minds and divergent ideas for good”.