Beverley Anderson-Manley

October, 2007, is the month in which the next parliamentary general elections are due. The Prime Minister has the option of an additional three-month period to call these elections. However, the People's National Party (PNP) has traditionally called elections early rather than late. Between March and April, Cricket World Cup is the focus, so an election campaign is hardly likely during this time. That leaves the six-month period May to October.

Both political parties have been concentrating on these elections for months. This applies particularly in the case of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) coming from 17 long years in the political wilderness. The Opposition campaign has been high-profile as they introduce their new leader Bruce Golding to the voters. In introducing Mr. Golding elements of his reform message are communicated to his audience. But the JLP has a problem. Mr. Golding's personality is not of the type that people get excited and passionate about. Mr. Golding himself is aware of this. What you see is what you get. During the period March to April, the JLP should be consolidating its gains and getting ready for the last fling from May to October.

In the case of the PNP, their candidate selection traumas seem to be over, except in a few constituencies. But the major challenge still facing the party is one of unity at all levels. What the PNP leader has going for her is a feeling among the masses of the people that she should be given a chance - an opportunity to run the country based on her own mandate.

During this phase also, the continuous registration of voters is of critical importance. If elections are called after May, this is the last chance for getting on the voters' list. Between now and the end of March, party activists will be ensuring that they get as many people as possible on the May list.

Then, there is the major question of fund-raising. This is a fairly long election campaign. Many persons felt that the Prime Minister would have called an election shortly after becoming the PNP leader last February and her swearing-in as Prime Minister in late March, 2006. It was felt that this would have been her best bet to win overwhelmingly. There were others who were confident that it would be no later than December of 2006, including the JLP leader, who announced that he would be doing his Christmas message from Jamaica House.

In the meantime, everyone, including the candidates, wait. The longer the wait, the more money that is needed. By and large, party supporters, are no longer willing to be volunteers. They want to be paid a stipend for everything that they do. Canvassing of voters costs money. Take election day as another example. It can cost each candidate as much as $5 million for election day expenses alone. The Electoral Commission is paying each of the parties' indoor agents $2,500 per day. The parties may have to match this daily rate for other categories of workers.

A Peaceful Election

As the ElectoralAdvisory Committee completes 27 years of service to the people of Jamaica, we are proud of all who served and continue to serve, including the directors of election, the PNP and JLP appointees and the independent members. We must never underestimate the enormous work done to build this institution - in a society that is still highly tribalised. It is to our credit that we have the finest system in the region and are therefore called upon to supervise elections outside of our own borders. It is within this context of a society maturing politically that we can anticipate a peaceful election.

At the heart of the process of political maturation are the citizens. During this election countdown, citizens have an ongoing opportunity to assess their roles and responsibilities. These responsibilities include active membership in citizens' associations, building relationships, building communities, manifesting leadership at all levels, taking responsibility while simultaneously holding those who serve us accountable. Governance proceeds best when the citizenry is awake.