Latoya Grindley, Gleaner Writer

Citizens Action for Free and Fair Elections (CAFFE) says it will be assigning more volunteers to cover specific divisions during the December 5 local government elections.

Fabian Brown, a director of CAFFE, says these areas will be selected based on its observations in previous election, as well as reports from the police and the local electoral body.

Father Jim Webb, a CAFFE board member, says the plan for the impending elections will be similar to the one that was used in the general election.

"We will monitor from the opening of the polls to the conclusion of the preliminary count," he said "Independent observers or monitors are civic-minded persons working to support the electoral process without prejudice."

Meanwhile, CAFFE is appealing for volunteers to work on election day. The organisation says it is currently reviewing a list of persons who had signed up to work in the September 3 election, to see whether they are available for December 5.

Mr. Brown says a greater level of energy is expected between the political parties and their supporters due to certain factors including the marginal results of the general election and the number of divisions across the island. There are 227 parish council divisions being contested by the two major political parties.

Confident

Notwithstanding, Mr. Brown is confident that CAFFE will be able to effectively monitor the polls.

Next year, CAFFE will be providing a detailed report on the proceedings of the 2007 General Election and the local government elections.

Mr. Brown says the report will include a number of things such as the extent of the coverage, and the associated challenges plus recommendations for improving the elections.

CAFFE will also monitor voting exercises for election day workers and security personnel on November 29.