Electoral Office receives funds in full for election preparations

THE ELECTORAL Office of Jamaica (EOJ) has now been given the full $350 million it had requested to prepare for the next general election.

The EOJ had received a portion of the money ($200 million) in October with a promise that the rest would be paid early this month.

Senior government officials were adamant that the rest of the money had been paid, but efforts to get a confirmation from the EOJ were unsuccessful.

However, head of the Electoral Commission of Jamaica, Professor Errol Miller, confirmed this week that the EOJ had received the outstanding sum.

In a letter to Financial Secretary Dr Wesley Hughes on September 29, the EOJ had said it would need $350 million at least 90 days before nomination day to get ready for the general election.

In the letter, the EOJ noted that the majority of its expenditure would take place after an election, but it said it needed money to ensure that it was properly prepared whenever the prime minister gives the word.

The bulk of the money requested by the EOJ, $250 million, is to purchase new equipment and replace defective equipment to be used in the voter-identification and ballot-issuing system.

The EOJ also requested $32 million to replace defective ballot-printing equipment, $30 million to sensitise electors about the boundary changes, and $20 million to recruit and train election day workers.