KINGSTON, Jamaica – The Electoral Commission of Jamaica (ECJ), has registered the country’s third political party, the United Independents’ Congress (UIC).
According to the ECJ, the new party has satisfied the requirements of the Representation of the People (Amendment) Act 2016.
Based in the community of Bogue, in the southern parish of St Elizabeth, the UIC, led by Joseph Patterson, submitted its application for registration with the Commission in February.
Patterson notes that the UIC was launched in 2015 with an aim “to create a Jamaica where all Jamaicans can live, work and retire with dignity and liberty in their own country”.
Chairman of the ECJ, Dorothy Pine-McLarty, welcomed the addition of the UIC to Jamaica’s cadre of registered political parties.
“We are pleased that another political party has been successfully registered. I believe this indicates that our democracy is moving in a positive direction. I encourage other political parties to seek to formalise their registration with the ECJ,” she said.
According to the Commission, the UIC will now be eligible to contest future elections as a registered political party and will have its finances monitored by the ECJ.
The commission further noted that UIC now joins the other two registered political parties, the ruling Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) and the main opposition Peoples National Party (PNP). (CMC)
