Draft:United Independents' Congress of Jamaica

The UIC was founded by Joseph L. Patterson, a Chartered Professional Accountant with over 25 years of experience in leadership and finance. The party was officially registered by the Electoral Commission of Jamaica (ECJ) on December 2, 2019, under the provisions of the Representation of the People (Amendment) Act 2016.{{cite news |title=ECJ registers third political party |url=https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/2019/12/04/ecj-registers-third-political-party/ |work=Jamaica Observer |date=4 December 2019 |access-date=9 May 2025}}

Joseph Patterson previously ran unsuccessfully as an independent candidate in the St. Elizabeth North Eastern constituency during the 2016 general elections.

The UIC’s core ideology is libertarianism, grounded in the principles of individual liberty, limited government, and free markets. Its platform includes:

• Individual Liberty and Personal Responsibility – Advocates for protecting life, liberty, and property through a transparent and accountable governance system.
• Non-Partisan Constitutional Republic – Proposes replacing the Westminster model with a republic led by a non-partisan president and independent parliamentarians.{{cite web |title=Party Platform |url=https://uicjamaica.com/pages/party-platform |website=UIC Jamaica |access-date=9 May 2025}}
• Free-Market Economy – Promotes a simplified tax structure (10% flat income and sales tax) and the removal of property and import taxes.
• Governance Reform – Calls for a directly elected president, three elected vice presidents to ensure checks and balances as well as better representation on the national executive (one from each county), and ministers vetted by a publicly accountable Senate, which is elected by the people (one or two Senators elected per parish).

As of 2025, the UIC’s leadership includes:

• President: Joseph L. Patterson
• Chairperson: Janett Chocianowski
• Vice President (Cornwall): Winston Wright
• Vice President (Middlesex): Chase Neil
• Vice President (Surrey): vacant
• General Secretary: Claudia Barrett-Hogarth

The UIC is organized at national, county, parish, constituency, division, and community levels, with a constitution that emphasizes civic participation.{{cite web |title=UIC Constitution |url=https://uicjamaica.com/pages/uic-constitution |website=UIC Jamaica |access-date=9 May 2025}}

The UIC has announced plans to contest both local and general elections. In 2023, Joseph Patterson stated that the party aimed to field five to six candidates, focusing on constituencies in Westmoreland, St. Mary, and Kingston and St. Andrew.{{cite news |title=UIC Preparing To Field Candidates For Upcoming Elections |url=https://radiojamaicanewsonline.com/local/uic-preparing-to-field-candidates-for-upcoming-elections |work=RJR News |date=26 September 2023 |access-date=9 May 2025}}

In 2024 February Local Government Elections, the UIC fielded five candidates in electoral divisions from Westmoreland, St. Elizabeth, St. Catherine, St. Andrew and St. Mary, although the St. Mary candidate was misreported by the Electoral Commission of Jamaica as Independent. None of the candidates won a seat. The UIC also fielded a candidate, Chase Neil, in the September 2024 North-East St. Ann Constituency By-Election. He lost to the JLP's Matthew Samuda.

The party also supports the idea of publicly funded election campaigns and maintains strict standards for candidate vetting.

The UIC has raised concerns about media bias, claiming that mainstream outlets have routinely ignored its press releases and public engagements.{{cite news |title=UIC Political Party Complains Of Being Ignored By Media |url=https://radiojamaicanewsonline.com/local/uic-political-party-complains-of-being-ignored-by-media |work=RJR News |date=25 September 2023 |access-date=9 May 2025}}

In 2021, President Joseph Patterson was arrested during a protest against mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations. The UIC filed a constitutional challenge to the arrest, alleging violations of his civil liberties. As of late 2024, the party was awaiting a ruling and expressed concerns over judicial delay.{{cite news |title=UIC urges speedier ruling in leader's constitutional challenge, alleges 'glaring bias' |url=https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/2024/11/21/uic-urges-speedier-ruling-leaders-constitutional-challenge-alleges-glaring-bias/ |work=Jamaica Observer |date=21 November 2024 |access-date=9 May 2025}}

• Politics of Jamaica
• Elections in Jamaica
• Jamaica Labour Party
• People's National Party

{{Reflist}}

• [https://uicjamaica.com Official Website of the UIC]

:Category:Political parties in Jamaica

:Category:Libertarian parties in North America

:Category:Political parties established in 2019