KINGSTON, Jamaica — Head of the Organisation of American States (OAS) Electoral Observation Mission (EOM) to Jamaica, former Prime Minister of St Lucia, Kenny Anthony, has reported no major problems so far since the polls opened at 7:00 am Wednesday morning.

Following a tour of Alpha Primary School in the Kingston Central constituency shortly after one this afternoon, Dr Anthony told journalists that his team, which comprises 23 experts and observers from 16 countries, have been deployed across the island since the polls opened.

He said the main issue was the temporary suspension in the use of the Electronic Voter Identification System (EVIS).

According to Dr Anthony, there have been no other major complaints so far, but “the day is not over yet”.

The OAS mission is on the island to observe the management of the general election, boundaries, electoral technology, electoral justice, and the political participation of women.

Last Friday, the mission observed the voting by police, military, and election day workers. Today, members of the mission are visiting polling stations to observe the entire electoral process — from the opening of the polls to the counting and processing of results.

Ahead of the polls, Dr Anthony and his team met with government and electoral authorities, political parties and candidates, representatives of civil society, and other stakeholders to hear their perspectives on the ongoing electoral process.

The OAS/EOM will present its preliminary report with observations and recommendations that seek to strengthen Jamaica’s democratic and electoral processes, in the days after the election.

This is the fourth Electoral Observation Mission that the OAS has deployed in Jamaica, and it is made possible thanks to the financial contributions of Canada, Chile, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Peru, Spain, Switzerland, and the United States.

— Arthur Hall