Barbara Ellington, Lifestyle Editor

New author and former politician Ryan Peralto (right) signs a copy of his book 'Insure Your Democracy' for Chief Justice Lensley Wolfe. - Colin Hamilton/Freelance Photographer

Former Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Chairman Ryan Peralto has joined the impressive list of Jamaican authors who are putting their wealth of knowledge gleaned in their respective fields into books for posterity.

On January 18, he launched the LMH Publishers' Insure Your Democracy, a book that takes an in-depth look at the country's electoral system. The launch took place at the Police Officers' Club in St. Andrew, and was chaired by Hon. Dennis Lalor.

In his remarks, Mr. Peralto said he wanted to join those concerned about the future of Jamaica in preserving the country for their future. "I want us to feel free to do what we wish, when we wish and how. I saw the opposite in Guyana, Poland and Czechoslovakia and said to myself, not my Jamaica, but our struggle is not over," Peralto said.

Urged readership

He further urged the large audience which included guest speaker, former Prime Minister The Most Hon. Edward Seaga, to read the book because, "change is not easy if you love Jamaica, so do something to change the system."

Publisher and Member of Parliament Mike Henry, said Insure Your Democracy is divided into two sections and is rich in detail, it excites the imagination and speaks to the reality in which we live.

Mr. Seaga put on the cap of lecturer/historian and chronicled the journey of Jamaica's electoral system from its early hiccups to the birth of the Electoral Advisory Committee (EAC). He recalled the author's introduction of a system to identify and verify voters and the 15-year struggle to the present.

Impersonations

But he also took his audience back as far as the significant events of 1959, 1963, 1964 and 1967, that were characterised by impersonations, the introduction of fingerprinting and photographs and the restriction of the latter to the Corporate Area in the first instance.

"I hope the recommendations will be allowed to work and that money and effort extended on the system so far, will not go to waste. The book is rich in detail, documentation,bonafide presentation and is a source for everyone who wants to do research and find out our purpose here will be," Mr. Seaga said.

Throughout the evening, LMH publishers sold copies of the books to guests. Mr. Peralto who accompanied by members of his family told The Sunday Gleaner that it was his granddaughter Brianna's idea to use placards in the design of the book's cover.