Jamaica cannot afford to take its democracy for granted. That is why the alarming financial plight of Citizens Action for Free and Fair Elections (CAFFE), after almost three decades of monitoring the country’s elections, should concern every Jamaican who values the right to choose our leaders through free, fair, and credible polls.

We stand in solidarity with CAFFE and urge corporate Jamaica, philanthropic foundations, or any other entities with the means to do so to help keep this vital institution operational.

Its survival is not merely a matter for its members or the organisations that have traditionally funded its work. It is a national interest.

Not too long ago, Jamaica approached general elections amid deep trepidation about the fairness of the process and concerns for the safety of voters. Memories of political violence and electoral abuses in earlier decades underscored how fragile our democratic traditions could be.

The possibility of a return to those dark days was a sobering reminder that confidence in elections cannot be taken for granted.

Much credit must go to the Electoral Commission of Jamaica (ECJ) and the Electoral Office of Jamaica (EOJ) for the remarkable turnaround in the conduct and administration of our elections.

Their work has helped strengthen public confidence in the electoral process and move Jamaica away from a period when elections were accompanied by widespread anxiety about their integrity and safety.

That progress, however, must not lull us into complacency. The institutions responsible for administering elections and those that independently observe them perform complementary, indispensable roles.

Indeed, CAFFE itself has acknowledged the ECJ’s and EOJ’s achievements while insisting that independent monitoring remains essential. As CAFFE Chair Ms Grace Baston rightly warns, democracy without monitoring is democracy threatened.

Observers provide an additional layer of scrutiny, help reassure voters, and offer an independent assessment of how elections are conducted. Their presence can deter wrongdoing and strengthen public trust in the results.

Nor are the threats to free and fair elections confined to the ballot-stuffing and overvoting that once plagued the process. The growing potential for artificial intelligence to generate deepfake videos and deceptive political content presents new challenges.

Additionally, voter apathy threatens meaningful participation, making CAFFE’s work among schoolchildren particularly important. It is deeply troubling that the withdrawal of international funding has forced the organisation to reduce its election-observer target and close most of its more than 40 school civic-engagement clubs.

These are not marginal losses. They risk weakening the very safeguards and public awareness that Jamaica needs to preserve its democratic gains. Keeping CAFFE functional is, therefore, an investment in national stability, good governance, and public confidence.

Businesses benefit from a society in which institutions are trusted, leadership is chosen legitimately, and political disputes are settled peacefully. Contributions need not be limited to cash; companies and other organisations may also be able to provide services, training, logistical assistance, or other practical support.

CAFFE must, of course, continue to demonstrate sound stewardship of whatever resources it receives. But the absence of its former international funding should not become a death sentence for an organisation whose work benefits the entire country.