Proposed budget has $1.9 billion for elections

The Government has set aside an additional $2 billion for parliamentary elections due by September this year.

The figure is contained in the proposed budget for the next financial year (2025-2026) that starts on April 1.

The document, known as the Estimates of Expenditure, was tabled in the House of Representatives this afternoon by Finance Minister Fayval Williams.

It must be debated and approved by March 31 when the current financial year ends.

It outlines that $1.95 billion is to be spent on "parochial elections," which are constitutionally due.

However, Director of Elections Glasspole Brown said that description is an error and the figure is for parliamentary elections.

Parochial or local government elections were held in February last year.

The proposed amount will bring to approximately $2.3 billion, the amount that is to be available to the Electoral Commission of Jamaica (ECJ) for the conduct of national elections.

Last month, Parliament approved $365.3 million for elections.

Brown said the total amount corresponds with what his office has requested.

Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness is the sole constitutional authority with the power to call the elections.

At a political rally in St Mary on Sunday, Cabinet minister Dr Christopher Tufton said he believes Holness will call the elections by June or July.

The ECJ started recruiting workers for elections in January.

- Jovan Johnson

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