HEAD of the Organization of American States (OAS) electoral observation mission (EOM) to Jamaica, former Prime Minister of Saint Lucia Dr Kenny Anthony has applauded Jamaicans for the way they conducted themselves on election day.

Dr Anthony, who is leading an observer mission of 23 experts and observers from 16 countries, in a mid-afternoon update on Wednesday, said the polls had been conducted in a calm and civil manner at that time.

“Voting has been calm and orderly with a sense of civic maturity and pride,” Dr Anthony told journalists following a tour of the polling stations at Alpha Primary School in the Kingston Central constituency.

He pointed out that OAS observers islandwide reported that the majority of polling stations opened as scheduled at 7:00 am with all the necessary material.

“We are observing closely the measures taken to assist persons with disabilities as well as the elderly. Most polling stations were accessible and provide assistance to persons with disabilities and to some extent elderly persons, but challenges continue to exist,” added Dr Anthony.

The mission head noted that party agents were present in most polling stations while there was an adequate deployment of members of the security forces.

“We also want to commend very highly the professionalism of the staff of the Electoral Office [of Jamaica]. They have received high commendation from voters who we have seen spoken to at the polling stations that we have visited. We welcome the fact that there seems to be so much trust in the election authorities,” said Dr Anthony.

The OAS mission is in the island to observe the management of the 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. On Wednesday members of the mission visited 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 and Dr Anthony, on Wednesday, made it clear that this would not be a comparison to the electoral process in other states in the region but a chance to tell Jamaica if it is on the right track.

“One good thing about international observers is that the observations of one mission are shared with other countries, other jurisdictions, so that they, too, can examine the best practices.

“The tradition within the Caribbean is to watch very closely what is happening in sister states so that the Jamaican election will have lessons for other countries and they will be watching very closely how you are managing the process,” Dr Anthony told journalists.

This is the fourth Eom that the OAS has deployed in Jamaica. It is made possible through financial contributions of Canada, Chile, France, Italy, The Netherlands, Peru, Spain, Switzerland, and the United States.

Best friends Patrice Thomas (left), a People’s National Party supporter, and Sharlene Harvey, who supports the Jamaica Labour Party, are seen on Olympic Way in St Andrew West Central displaying the spirit of unity and friendship that marked the 2025 General Election on Wednesday. Photo: Naphtali Junior