Director of Elections Orrette Fisher says yesterday’s proceedings, which saw 152 candidates nominated across the island’s 63 constituencies for the February 25 General Election, were conducted without any problems.

“Everything went quite smooth. We are on target for the election, but before we have to deal with the 22nd when we will have the military, the police and election day workers voting,” he told the Jamaica Observer yesterday evening.

In the meantime, Deputy Commissioner of Police Clifford Blake, who is responsible for operations within the Jamaica Constabulary Force, also attested to the uneventfulness of the day’s proceedings.

He commended the work of the security forces, who were out in their numbers to monitor nomination exercises, stating in an interview with the Observer that the police had “executed their plans well in managing the day’s proceedings” and that there was no major incident.

“Well [there were] no unusual incidents or disruption. If there were any they were minor incidents,” he said, noting that these had not required any use of excessive force.

Reports from across the island reflected the carnival-like atmosphere that marked the day with supporters of both major political parties engaging in friendly banter.

The Opposition Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) has repeatedly voiced its concerns about a significant number of deceased people still being carried on the voters’ list, but Fisher said the possibility of individuals voting on a dead person’s identity is being addressed, as the relevant parties at all polling stations have been armed with a photo identification list for voters. Additionally, he said, there are other measures in place to ward off illegal voting, but that these could not be disclosed.

Sixty-three candidates each were nominated for the ruling People’s National Party and the JLP, while seven were nominated for the National Democratic Movement, six for the Marcus Garvey People’s Political Party, 10 independents, and two for the People’s Progressive Party. Another party called HOPE (Hope For Portland East) which was formed yesterday, had one nominee, Dr Dennis Minott.

At an Electoral Commission of Jamaica press conference last week, Commissioner Justice Karl Harrison explained details of the amended nomination form which now includes a candidate’s declaration section overleaf.

“The reason for this is that we still have issues concerning dual nationalities — not to say there are candidates (now) who fall in that category — but we want to make it very clear that this is not acceptable, so the declaration is required to be executed by the candidate on nomination day. It is a solemn declaration made by each candidate,” he explained.

Under the Representation of the People Act, any candidate found to have made a false declaration could be fined or imprisoned. In the campaign financing bill that is now before the Parliament, people found in breach of the declaration may incur a fine of $3 million.