The Electoral Commission of Jamaica (ECJ) says its Political Ombudsman unit has been operational since February 2024 and is actively receiving complaints from the public.

In a statement, the ECJ said it has established a dedicated unit within its office to manage the responsibilities of the Political Ombudsman.

These include coordinating activities and implementing mechanisms for accepting, processing and responding to complaints about breaches of the political code of conduct.

The unit is headed by the ECJ’s Registrar of Political Parties, who will act as the chief liaison between the public and the commission’s members, who, together, constitute the Political Ombudsman.

The ECJ said members of the public are invited to submit complaints in writing, which may be done through its online complaints portal, by email, or delivered to the Office of the Political Ombudsman at 46 Duke Street in Kingston.

So far, two complaints have been received during the current electoral campaign period: one regarding the placement of signs in Montego Bay, St. James and the other about the removal of paraphernalia in South Eastern St. Elizabeth.

The ECJ also confirmed it has commenced a review of the existing political code of conduct.

It said it has written to the general secretaries of political parties about the removal of flags and paraphernalia and is preparing a public education programme on the role of the Political Ombudsman.