Left to right: Herro Blair and Danville WalkerVernon Daley and Lavern Clarke, Staff Reporters
Several organisations and individuals have highly commended the key persons responsible for the electoral system which resulted in a fairly smooth day of polling on Wednesday, October 16, Election Day.
Some polls failed to open at the stipulated 7:00 a.m. and there were reports of intimidation and other irregularities, but even the international observers here to monitor the elections, endorsed the polls as reflecting the will of the people, and the system as the most efficient in modern Jamaica's history.
Officials who were highly praised for their work in ensuring smooth polling on Election Day include Director of Elections, Daville Walker, who heads the Electoral Office of Jamaica (EOJ); Chairman of the Peace Management Initiative and Political Ombudsman, Bishop Herro Blair; Chairman of the Electoral Advisory Committee (EAC) Prof. Errol Miller; and Police Commissioner Francis Forbes whose comprehensive security plan worked well on Election Day to present the expected widescale violence.
Josef Forstmayr, President, Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA), said that Danville Walker is forthright, honest, very competent and realistic. "He knew what was possible and what was not, and told everybody before hand so we were all prepared for the right outcome," said the JHTA president. "I would rate him - if I was basing it on previous performance which was poor - but this one was like a 360 degree turn so I would have to give him the highest ratings."
Of Bishop Herro Blair, the JHTA president said: "Most decisive and a true bridge builder. I found him to be a lightning rod - to take on all these things that can build up into aggression and to take care of it before it exploded. Again a great man, a good person in the right place and I would again give him the highest ratings."
In his assessment of the man in charge of the body directly responsible for the electoral system, Mr. Forstmayr said that Prof. Errol Miller "must get the same grade as Mr. Walker because he obviously had something to do with picking the right people. Great communicator. He made sure that the private sector was totally up-to-date on all elements of the election, was very welcoming to international observers."
Mr. Forstmayr indicated that the Police Commissioner Francis Forbes had a difficult job but his team did well along with members of the Jamaica Defence Force. "I have always said it - any murder, any crime committed in the name of politics or any other reason doesn't make it any less a crime. It is so important in the aftermath that we do not forget about some of these criminal acts and murders because they carry a political tag," said the JHTA president.
Mark Kerr-Jarrett, President of the Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce and Industry, agreed that the Director of Elections, Mr. Walker, did a good job.
"He did very well indeed. He is deserving of commendations and congratulations. I think he acted impartially and very decisively," said Mr. Kerr-Jarrett.
Regarding the Political Ombudsman, the MoBay Chamber president said: "I think he paid a very vital part in bridging the gap between the two
political parties, especially in the troublesome and garrison areas. And he brought a high level of objectivity to the whole process."
Mr. Kerr-Jarrett said that Prof. Miller was also worthy of commendation as much of the success on Election Day could be attributed to his leadership. Of police force, under the leadership of Francis Forbes, he said: "I think the police did a very good job. They were on the spot; they were organised and I think getting the helicopters was a very good initiative. Here again I think the objectivity was observed. Outside of a couple of troubled spots we had a very peaceful and calm elections."
Carloyn Gomes, Chairman of Jamaican for Justice, also had words of commendations for Danville Walker; Prof. Miller, the Political Ombudsman and the Commissioner of Police. She said that Mr. Walker and his team at the EOJ have done tremendous service "and I think they deserve a place in our history books".
Professor Miller and his team did a very good in ensuring a good electoral system, while Mrs. Gomes said that the Police Commissioner and his team did a good job, despite concerns about security personnel not being on the ground in some areas when election workers turned up at polling stations.
"I think Bishop Blair as Political Ombudsman again did Jamaica credit. He kept a lid on it with an even hand and an even tone. The Peace Management Initiative role that he plays was very important and remain so," said the Jamaicans For Justice head.
Both the observer groups - the United States-based Carter Center and the local Citizens for Free and Fair Elections (CAFFE) also had high praises for the polls.
"Jamaicans' confidence in their election was bolstered by the professional and steadfast work of the security forces and the Electoral Office of Jamaica" a Carter Center release said.
CAFFE's Dr Lloyd Barnett also added his commendations to the EOJ and the security forces for what he described as a 'successful election'.
