Campaign clutter
One week past removal deadline, mayors bemoan slow pace of action
Published:Wednesday | September 24, 2025 | 12:09 AMSashana Small/Staff Reporter
Although some political candidates have begun taking down campaign advertisements in line with the September 17 deadline set by the political ombudsman, at least three mayors believe that the pace of removal is still too slow – one week past the cut-off date.
Montego Bay Mayor Richard Vernon told The Gleaner that while there has been compliance in the city centre, with posters, banners, murals, flags, and other materials being removed from public and private spaces, several communities remain cluttered.
He said the St James Municipal Corporation’s enforcement team has been on the road since last Thursday, documenting removals with photos and videos.
“They are being treated as litter, and as soon as we have completed the exercise, we will collate the information and affix the requisite charges (fines) to the respective agents who are associated with the paraphernalia,” he said.
Vernon emphasised that offenders would be penalised under existing laws. The National Solid Waste Management Act (2001) and the accompanying Public Cleanliness Regulations (2003) govern such infractions, with the Anti-Litter Ticketing System imposing a $10,000 fine for employing individuals to deface public property or public space by erecting, displaying, depositing or affixing anything on any building, wall, fence, or structure.
In Spanish Town, Mayor Norman Scott, who also chairs the St Catherine Municipal Corporation, stressed the importance of timely removal, saying that the leftover campaign materials contribute to the “uglification” of communities.
He stated that his team would be out later this week to enforce the law, which requires the removal of all campaign paraphernalia within 14 days after the conclusion of an election.
“I know that in St Catherine some amount of removal is being done. I know for sure that the constituency in which I am a councillor in East St Catherine, some amount of removal has been done already,” he said.
Scott said he has also removed the campaign items in St Elizabeth South Eastern, where he was a candidate.
On Sunday, Kingston Mayor Andrew Swaby led an enforcement team in the capital city to remove campaign material.
“There is still a lot out there that needs to be taken [down],” he said.
NON-COMPLIANCE ISSUE
To address ongoing issues with non-compliance, Swaby proposed introducing a refundable bond system. Under this system, political parties would pay a deposit before putting up campaign signs – similar to event promoters – ensuring that materials are removed after elections or the bond is forfeited.
“The time has come for the KSAMC (Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation) to consider the political parties to pay a deposit or a bond because it is unfair, in my estimation, that when a simple man who is putting on a party, paying a deposit that in case if they do not come and take it (poster) down, we’ll take it down and they lose their deposit,” he said.
“It is unfair for political parties to be putting up these signs, and thing, and not take them down, and yet the KSAMC has to stand the cost.”
Swaby added that the proposal would undergo a consultative process, with the aim of implementing it before the next local and general elections.
In the meantime, he urged all political representatives to act responsibly.
“Even though the time had passed when the political parties should have taken down their signs, we’re asking both political parties again to encourage their candidates to take down their signs,” he said.