Omar Anderson, Gleaner Writer
BLAIR
THE PRIVATE Sector Organisation of Jamaica's (PSOJ) Emancipation Park Declaration is expected to be signed next month.
Politicians from the People's National Party (PNP) and the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) have been scrutinising the document for several months after initiallyhaving problems with the language in the May 25 declaration.
On Wednesday, Political Ombudsman Bishop Herro Blair told The Gleaner that the document had been returned to the two major political parties for "re-affirmation".
"It has been sent back to them to ensure that what's in it is what will be printed," he said.
In response to the ballooning crime rate, the PSOJ issued the Declaration of Emancipation Park which, among other things, called on politicians to distance themselves from criminals and refuse their financial support.
Politicians, including senators, mayors, and caretakers, were expected to sign the document by June 15.
POLITICIANS BECAME OFFENDED
But soon after the declaration was issued, politicians became offended, arguing that the document assumed that all politicians were in complicity with criminals. Following meetings with the PSOJ, the declaration was revised to require that politicians "not knowingly associate with" criminals.
Politicians also frowned at another recommendation in the document that gave widespread power to the Political Ombudsman to arbitrarily intervene in the internal disputes of political parties.
Additionally, some politicians refused to sign the declaration as they claimed doing so could set a precedent for other interest groups.
It was later decided that since there were similarities between the declaration and the 2002 Code of Political Conduct signed between both parties, the Ombudsman would be asked to make the necessary changes.
"I think it (declaration) should be signed in Parliament but Parliament is in recess," Bishop Blair said. "I suspect it will be signed when Parliament resumes."
