MONTEGO BAY, St James — People’s National Party (PNP) standard-bearer for St James West Central Dr Andre Haughton says he has not approached the Office of the Political Ombudsman (OPO) for help even though he pointed to Monday’s alleged vandalisation of his campaign poster as proof that he is being targeted by the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP).

“No I have not reported; I can’t find the political ombudsman man, where are they? I don’t know who they are,” he told Observer Online Wednesday afternoon.

Since February 2024, the OPO has been operational under the Electoral Commission of Jamaica (ECJ). According to its website, “The ECJ has sought to streamline and improve the operations of the Office of Political Ombudsman through the implementation of a dedicated unit within the Office of the ECJ. The unit is headed by a senior officer, the ECJ’s registrar of political parties. That person will be the chief liaison between the public and the ECJ’s members, who, together, constitute the political ombudsman.”

It also provides three options for submitting complaints — via an online portal, by email, or via post or hand delivery.

It reiterated this information in a media release on Wednesday in which it also indicated that it is keeping an eye on the conduct of political parties as they ramp up campaigning, and has held talks with the general secretaries of the two main political parties regarding complaints made against their members.

“Since March this year, the political ombudsman has received eight complaints from members of political parties and advocacy groups, which are being actively and carefully investigated.

“Political players and members of the public are reminded that intimidation, inflammatory political speech, public disorder, defacement of political material, and conduct deemed contrary to the spirit of non-confrontational and peaceful campaigning are against the code of political conduct,” said a section of the release before it urged the public to submit complaints.

However, Haughton is convinced that would yield no results. He said the matter of his defaced billboard is in the hands of his lawyer. He has turned to social media to voice his concerns about the damage done to his poster in Westgreen, St James. He has also made it clear he will not be deterred in his bid to unseat sitting Member of Parliament Marlene Malahoo Forte (JLP), who is also minister of legal and constitutional affairs.

In the last general election, Haughton polled 4,415 to Malahoo Forte’s 6,181 but, according to him, he is now a more formidable foe and this is why he is being targeted.

“They are intimidated, as well, about my chances to win the constituency. It’s a sad feeling because you are the party in power and then you targeting the Opposition; it doesn’t make any sense. It should be the Opposition doing what they can to target the party in power. It appears as if I am the MP and they are the ones contesting for the seat,” he declared.

This is the second time Haughton has reported that a poster of his was vandalised. In March, he indicated that damage had been done to one at the base of Long Hill.

“It’s all about restricting the ability of the city to get good leadership. It’s a draconian style that they are employing but people are wise, they are recognising what is happening,” he declared.

Haughton is fresh off another campaign-sign skirmish with the St James Municipal Corporation. He was one of three PNP standard-bearers whose signs the corporation had to stop removing after an injunction by the Supreme Court as it examines the wider issues that led to them being taken down. On Tuesday Haughton again locked horns with the local authority which accused him of placing his signs in revenue-generating locations without paying the required fee.

READ: PNP scores legal victory in St James billboard removals lawsuit

“We didn’t breach anything; our signs were never on the revenue board. In the court documents, it said revenue board and now they are changing it to what they call a revenue area. They keep moving the goal post every time to victimise my efforts,” he told Observer Online Wednesday.

“In order to just squash it for that particular location, because we want the poster there, my lawyer decided that instead of going through the back and forth every day, putting it up and them taking it down, he just pay them the money for now until we reason it out in court,” Haughton added.