BlairPRIME MINISTER P.J. Patterson and Opposition Leader Edward Seaga yesterday suggested that the political groundwork has been laid to ensure a peaceful General Election later this year.
During debate on the Political Ombudsman (Interim) Bill in the House, both men pointed to modifications to the island's electoral laws, political code of conduct as well as voting system which, they said, would facilitate a peaceful election.
Mr. Patterson complained about politically motivated roadblocks and rivalry between political groups which, he said, were tying up the security forces and reflecting badly on the island's level of political maturity.
"What it means is that the security forces have to be diverted when they could be dealing with gunmen and drug lords," the Prime Minister said.
According to him, the political code of conduct, which was signed in the House recently, would help remove from the political landscape problems such as political graffiti and politically motivated roadblocks.
He added that recent amendments to electoral laws in the House would help to ensure smoother elections. The Prime Minister said the practice of over-voting, which was prevalent in some of the country's political enclaves, should be discontinued and warned that such results would be made null and void under the island's
electoral laws.
Opposition Leader Edward Seaga said the use of photographs with the current voters' list would help to improve the integrity of voting in the next General Election. He, however, argued that the Jamaica Labour Party would continue to push for an electronic voting system for future elections.
He added that with the reintroduction of the Office of Political Ombudsman, the stage was being set for a peaceful election.
"We are set to have what we hope to be the best election for some time," Mr. Seaga said.
Meanwhile, the House approved the Political Ombudsman (Interim) Act, which essentially reintroduces the Office of Political Ombudsman abolished a few years ago with the creation of the Office of the Public Defender.
Under the Bill, the Political Ombudsman will be appointed initially for a period of seven years, with an option for an additional five years. A parliamentary commission will be responsible for setting salary, as well as other terms for the Political Ombudsman.
The commission will be comprised of the Speaker of the House, the President of the Senate, the leaders of Government and Opposition Business in the House, the leaders of Government and Opposition Business in the Senate and the Minister responsible for the public service.
Both Mr. Patterson and Mr. Seaga expressed confidence in Bishop Herro Blair who was recently appointed interim Political Ombudsman.
