ECJ still awaiting legal advice on removing names from voters' list

Director of Elections Orrette Fisher says the Attorney General’s Department is yet to respond to a request from Electoral Commission of Jamaica (ECJ) for legal advice on removing names from the current voter’s list.

Fisher said the request was made several months ago.

He comments were made this morning at the launch of the registration of political parties where he stated that the reverification of voters has been stalled.

The director of elections explained that some $700 million were allocated in the 2017-18 budget to start the exercise however the money was removed in the first supplementary estimates.

Fisher’s comments came after remarks made by Leader of the Opposition, Dr Peter Phillips, at the launch.

Phillips urged the government to ensure that the reverification exercise is carried out.

He also called for the government to craft legislation to give teeth to the political code of conduct.

In his remark, Prime Minister Andrew Holness described the launch of the registration of political parties as a milestone in Jamaica’s political history.

He said political parties must lead from in front and set their houses in order.

Political parties will now come under greater scrutiny as their finances will be monitored by the ECJ.

As part of the process, the political parties will be required to produce annual audited accounts to the ECJ.

The parties will also be subject to regulations relating to how to finance their election campaigns.