Electoral Office needs another $1.2 billion and three months to complete election preparation

The Electoral Office of the Jamaica (EOJ) says it will need another $1.2 billion dollars and three more months to complete preparations for a General Election.

According to Dorothy Pine-McLarty, the chairperson of the Electoral Commission of Jamaica, the government has already handed over $400 million and the Electoral Office of Jamaica has started the preparations.

She says of the $400 million disbursement so far, some $200 million has been spent sourcing equipment and training some of the approximately 20,000 election day workers who will be needed.

Mrs Pine McLarty says the additional $1.2 billion will not be needed until much closer to the election date.

However, it is believed that Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller may call the elections this year.

Her Finance Minister, Dr Peter Phillips has been on political platforms telling Comrades to "get ready".