THREE employees of the Electoral Commission of Jamaica (ECJ), who have each served for at least four decades, expressed pride in their accomplishments as they were honoured on Wednesday, April 29, during the entity’s Long Service Awards.

Staff members who have served for 10 to over 40 years were recognised for their crucial contributions to safeguarding Jamaican democracy but pride of place was reserved for the three longest serving employees.

Beaming with pride after receiving her plaque for 40 years’ service, Everly Archer told the Jamaica Observer that her years were well spent at the ECJ.

After entering the organisation in 1986 at 31, Archer said she is now looking to retire at age 71.

“I feel good, man. It’s a proud moment to know that people remember you and your contributions. I feel honoured to be able get something like this. I feel fulfilled, so I’m looking towards retirement now,” said Archer.

Sandra Williams was also all smiles after receiving the Chairman’s Award for being the ECJ’s longest serving employee.

After 47 years of service, Williams told the Observer that she was honoured to be recognised for her efforts during her tenure.

“I am over the moon. I feel elated because I am being recognised for the years of service that I have given to the Electoral Office of Jamaica,” said Williams who started working at the ECJ in 1979 as an accounting clerk.

She noted that she watched the ECJ transform with the times, becoming more modern and digitised.

Williams added that during her employment, she also went through a transformational period, adapting and learning how to efficiently use new technology as it was introduced.

She said while her journey has come to an end at the organisation, she was grateful and proud to have played her part in supporting the ECJ to responsibly safeguard Jamaica’s democracy.

“So right now it’s retirement for me. I plan to do other things that I have wanted to do. I started one of them already, I learnt how to crochet. I also wanted to go into farming and I just have a lot of things up my sleeve. So I’m going to keep active, because if you don’t keep active you will lose it,” added Williams.

Meanwhile, Carmen Grant who has given 43 years’ service to the ECJ, told the Observer that the award is highly valued and a source of encouragement for her.

“It’s greatly appreciated, it encourages one when you are with an organisation that cares about you and takes time out to actually recognise what you have been doing and so it’s really just encouragement and motivation for me,” said Grant.

During her tenure, Grant held several positions which, she said, made her feel fulfilled and motivated to continue her service.

She said though her time to retirement is approaching she is not yet ready to leave the ECJ.

“I held various positions. I came in as a typist in 1983, and I moved from that position to the Audit Department where I was working as an accounting clerk. I left from there and I was working in HR (human resources), and then I moved from there to become the secretary to the assistant director. From that position I was moved to the Procurement Unit and I’m still in the Procurement Unit, where I am now the director of public procurement,” said Grant.

According to Grant, while 43 years was a long time, she never felt stagnated within the organisation.

“I would say I’m looking forward to continue giving my best service because I’m a person who believes in hard work, and giving my best. I believe in that because it’s my desire to also make sure that I leave an impact and act as an example for the younger ones coming up in the work world. I would like them to know that hard work pays,” said Grant.

Also honoured was president of the Senate Thomas Tavares-Finson who was appointed a commissioner in 2006. Tavares-Finson, who recently resigned from the ECJ, was recognised for his 20 years of service as a commissioner.

Delivering the keynote address, Chief Justice Bryan Sykes congratulated the awardees on their professional achievements and encouraged them to continue their good work in supporting the organisation responsible for upholding the core of Jamaica’s democracy.

“Long service — 10, 20, 30, 40 years — is not merely about endurance, it is about trust carried over time. Today, we honour those who have worked in a system where precision matters, accuracy matters, impartiality is essential. The consequences of failure are profound. You have all contributed to a system that ensures that when a Jamaican casts a vote, the vote is protected, it is respected, it is meaningful, and it is counted — and that is no small achievement. That is the quiet architecture of democracy and the greatest tribute we can pay to that service is not simply to celebrate it, but to build on it,” said Sykes.

Everly Archer (left) and Carmen Grant display their plaques for at least 40 years’ service to the Electoral Commission of Jamaica presented at the entity’s Long Service Awards on Wednesday, April 29, 2026.

Senate President Thomas Tavares-Finson (left) accepts a portrait from Justice Zaila McCalla for his 20 years’ service as a commissioner at the Electoral Commission of Jamaica during the entity’s Long Service Awards on April 29, 2026.