Symposium to Address 2002 Jamaica Election Findings

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Kay Torrance
404-420-5129

KINGSTON, JAMAICA…..The Carter Center will report its findings and recommendations of its final report on the October 2002 Jamaican elections during a symposium scheduled for June 5 from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Hilton Hotel

The symposium, sponsored by The Carter Center and the government department of the University of West Indies's Mona campus, features panelists Dr. Jennifer McCoy and Laura Neuman of the Center's Americas Program; Ron Gould, former assistant chief elections officers of Elections Canada; Dr. Amanda Sives, independent consultant; Danville Walker, director of elections of Jamaica's Election Advisory Committee; Dorothy Pine-McLarty, member of the Electoral Advisory Committee; Jamaican Political Ombudsman Bishop Harold Blair; Senator Trevor Munroe of the People's National Party; and Senator Bruce Golding of the Jamaican Labor Party.

The symposium will address administration of the elections, electoral politics, and proposed campaign finance reform. The panelists also will take questions via radio listeners during the final portion of the event.
The Carter Center observed the October 2002 elections and found that Jamaica made great strides in its electoral reforms and in reducing politically motivated violence. However, the Center also recommended more be done to insure that intimidation is eliminated from the electoral process and that the conflict prevention reforms are institutionalized so that the culture of violence is transformed to a culture of respect and tolerance.

In the Center's final report, it urges Jamaicans to empower its new electoral initiatives and positions, such as the Elections Centre and the political ombudsman. These initiatives, presently led or held by dynamic personalities who can assert their influence, need formalized procedures so that they continue to play an effective role in future elections. The Center report further encourages discussion related to other reforms, such as political party and campaign finance and reducing the "garrison phenomenon."
Read Jamaica Election Report (pdf format)