Deadline approaching for Portland Eastern by-election campaign financing declarations
KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Electoral Commission of Jamaica is reminding that deadline for disclosures of contributions and expenses by candidates and contributors for the Portland Eastern by-election is looming.
Under the Representation of the People (Amendment) Act 2016, contributors, candidates and registered political parties are required to file declarations and reports with the Electoral Commission of Jamaica (ECJ) within a prescribed time-frame.
ECJ said the two candidates who contested the election — Senator Damion Crawford and Member of Parliament Ann-Marie Vaz — (and their agents) have until May 16, 2019 to file a declaration of their election expenditures and a declaration that, to the best of the candidate’s knowledge and belief, no contribution from any impermissible contributor has been accepted by the candidate during the campaign reporting period.
A reporting period is that period commencing the first day of a campaign period and ending 180 days after the end of the campaign period, which in this instance spans March 4 to September 30.
Candidates and contributors are reminded that all contributions of $250,000 or more must be declared. Under the law, candidates may accept a maximum of $1.5 million from any one donor and are only allowed $15 million in expenditure for their election campaign, said ECJ.
The deadline to file a Declaration of Contributions for individuals or entities holding Government contracts of $500,000 or more, up to two years prior to making a contribution during the reporting period, are due no later than 14 days after making the contribution.
Similarly, Declarations of Contributions [during the reporting period/ by Contributors who enter into a Government contract within two (2) years after making a contribution are due within 14 days after receiving the contract.
Registered political parties who contested the by-election are also required to submit a Campaign Period Expenditure Report by October 1, 2019. Additionally, candidates and political parties must submit their Final Disclosure Report of Income and Election Expenditure by October 1, 2019.
ECJ urged all responsible individuals and entities to comply with the requirements of the Election Campaign Financing law.
“Any person or entity that fails to file the applicable submissions may be subject to such penalties listed within the Act and the Regulations,” warned the commission.
The applicable submissions should be filed with the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties at the Electoral Commission of Jamaica, 16 Red Hills Road, Kingston 10. Persons requiring further information may contact the ECJ at (876) 922-0425-9 or by email to registry.ecj@eoj.com.jm.
