Justice Minister Delroy Chuck has asked the Electoral Commission of Jamaica (ECJ) to provide information about the person appointed to function as the Political Ombudsman.

In a statement today, Mr. Chuck noted that he was advised that an individual was appointed to conduct the ombudsman’s functions.

The Ombudsman’s office has been subsumed into the ECJ.

There have been complaints from some candidates for the upcoming general election that their campaign posters were either removed or damaged, and calls have been made for the reinstatement of the ombudsman to look into the matter.

Mr. Chuck also noted that $60 m budgeted for the Ombudsman was not used by the ECJ. 

This in the wake of conflicting reports about the budgetary allocation for the Ombudsman.