Common sense is needed at this time
Published:Thursday | February 8, 2024 | 12:09 AM
THE EDITOR, Madam:
The Gleaner has reported that a member of the Electoral Commission of Jamaica has said that not all members of the electoral body supported the recommendation that the commission should carry out the role of the political omsbudsman. I am of the view that to allow all commissioners to perform the function of political omsbudsman, as reportedly said by the chairman, Mr Earl Jarrett, would be a retrograde step.
We cannot at this time, with all the haste there may be, cause a world-class institution that serves us so well, to be tainted as political. If what is reportedly said by Mr Jarrett is true, he may now want to look at the viral video recorded in St Thomas, where political interests had skirmishes and a firearm was brought into play. Furthermore, he needs also to read carefully statements made by the Jamaica Labour Party and the People’s National Party, and to consider carefully whether he would want the ECJ commissioners to be actively engaged in deciding which political party is right in this instance.
A decision either way would cause the public to paint the Electoral Commission of Jamaica as political and taint the good name of this world-class entity. If there is ever a time that common sense is needed in government it is now. Be warned!
HUBERT MCINTYRE