EOJ saves on spend for local government elections

Local government elections, which were estimated to cost the country $1.3 billion, have been reduced by $300 million.

The First Supplementary Estimates of Expenditure for 2016-2017, which is now before Parliament, shows that the Electoral Office of Jamaica spent $1 billion to run the November 28, 2016, elections.

The Director of Elections, Orrette Fisher, said yesterday that with the holding of the local government elections so close to the general election, the electoral office was able to contain expenditure in some areas.

The Jamaica Labour Party won the general elections, which were held in February 2016.