KINGSTON, Jamaica—Are you into tracking someone on their smartphone? Or into online stalking or the nonconsensual sharing of private content?

If you’re that person, then you could run afoul of the law if the People’s National Party (PNP) wins the September 3 general election.

The party has committed, in its 2025 General Election Manifesto which was launched on Tuesday, to enact legislation to deal with new and emerging crimes if it returns to power after the upcoming polls.

Under the heading ‘legal reform and accountability’, the PNP says it will conduct a “full review of gender-related laws to ensure enforcement and impact”.

The Opposition says if it takes back the reins of Government, it will “strengthen the prosecution of domestic violence, stalking, cyber harassment, and digital abuse and address new threats through legislation”.

The party says it will also train the police and judiciary to respond with care, sensitivity, and urgency.

It is also committing to restoring the Office of the Political Ombudsman as an independent watchdog, separate from the Electoral Commission of Jamaica.

And it has pledged to ensure the independence and effectiveness of the Integrity Commission to enable it to pursue its statutory mandate “without fear or favour, including desirable improvements such as the modification of the ‘gag clause’ to achieve a workable balance between protecting legitimate reputational rights and ensuring timely disclosure in the public interest”.

PNP President Mark Golding during his address at the launch, said the party will also move to address unexplained wealth orders. He said it was unacceptable that unknown individuals (parliamentarians) were under investigation by the commission for illicit enrichment but are on the ballot for the election.

“All except one,” he said in a swipe at Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness who has been investigated for illicit enrichment.
The party is also committing to strengthen the oversight committees of Parliament, including by enacting mechanisms to facilitate the participation of civil society and other non-State actors in the work of these committees.

And, it has pledged to modernise the Access to Information Act to implement simpler processes, shorter timelines and a broader scope, to facilitate the flow of information to the public.

-Lynford Simpson