WITH the upcoming general elections predicted to be very close, chairman of local observer group Citizens Action for Free and Fair Elections (CAFFE), Dr Lloyd Barnett, has described Jamaica’s political leaders as “reckless” for again allowing for the possibility of a tie, thus plunging the country into a leadership crisis.

Dr Barnett, a renowned constitutional and human rights lawyer, asserted that Jamaica’s political leaders since independence, have subjected the country to this “unnecessary risk” in the pursuit of their political goals.

“There is a possibility …that you could end up with 30 seats each for the two major political parties. For a long time I have been trying to say that it is risky to proceed with elections with an even number of seats,” he said.

Jamaica is divided into 60 constituencies, from which one person each is elected to the House of Representatives.

“How can we be so reckless with the welfare, stability and the future of the country by persisting with something which poses such great danger? Can you imagine the confusion that would descend on Jamaica if we were to have an equality of seats on the 28th (of August)?” Dr Barnett questioned.

Addressing the Lions Club of Kingston at the Pegasus Hotel yesterday, Dr Barnett cited the case of Trinidad and Tobago where a constitutional crisis ensued after the 2001 general election that ended in an 18-all tie.

“I believe the spirit of the people of Trinidad to deal with difficulties by resorting to calypso would not be present to assist us here. We could end up with a very tense, fragile country because we have taken unnecessary risks,” he said.

The CAFFE chairman said this was an example that Jamaica’s political leaders “have failed to deal with national matters in a very intelligent and responsible manner”.

He asserted that this matter was not addressed because the politicians could not decide which seats to add or which to subtract.

Dr Barnett challenged well-thinking Jamaicans and organisations to pressure the leaders to change this situation. He also questioned whether it was in the best interest of the country to call elections in the hurricane-prone month of August.

“If you study the history of Jamaica you will find that there have been more devastating hurricanes in August than in any other month, including October,” he noted.

He said that while the law allows for elections to be postponed entirely or in a part of the country in the event of bad weather or emergency, there were disadvantages to such a move, including the great cost that would be incurred and the possibility that the results in constituencies would be known before others.

Yesterday, the CAFFE chairman revealed that the watchdog group had achieved approximately half of its target of 2,000 volunteers for the upcoming polls. He said, however, that it was his experience that a high percentage of the volunteers came forward in the last few days before the polls.