KINGSTON, Jamaica — The island’s two major political parties say they are ready to submit their applications for registration with the Registrar of Political Parties at the Electoral Commission of Jamaica (ECJ) when the long-awaited process begins on January 2.

General Secretary of the Opposition People’s National Party (PNP), Julian Robinson told OBSERVER ONLINE that the party intends to register and is in the process of completing all the relevant documents, while the governing Jamaica Labour Party’s General Secretary Dr Horace Chang also indicated that registration will not be a challenge for his party.

The registration regime is the result of the passage of law in 2014, which amends the Representation of the People Act, to provide for the registration, financing, record keeping and de-registration of political parties.

This is intended to ensure transparency in the activities and regulate the funding of political parties in Jamaica. Under the statute, the ECJ can reject an application for a number of reasons outlined in law.

Alphea Saunders