Rosemarie Shaw, People's National Party candidate for West St. Thomas, and the Jamaica Labour Party's James Robertson leave the Election Centre in New Kingston after a meeting with Political Ombudsman Bishop Herro Blair andDirector of Elections Danville Walker yesterday. - Norman Grindley/Deputy Chief Photographer
Published in the Jamaica Gleaner: Thursday | August 16, 2007
Come tomorrow, the constituencies of South East St. Elizabeth and West St. Thomas will know if they will be able to exercise their vote on August 27.
Speaking yesterday at the end of a convened meeting with the candidates of the constituencies from the two major political parties, Political Ombudsman Bishop Herro Blair said a committee will be reviewing the discussions and a decision will be made by tomorrow.
"We will have to contemplate what is best as a result of the meetings we had today (yesterday)," Bishop Blair said.
Danville Walker, director of elections, and nominated members of the Electoral Commission of Jamaica were also present at the meeting held at the Election Centre in New Kingston.
Both representatives of South East St. Elizabeth, Norman Horne of the People's National Party (PNP) and Franklyn Witter of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), said they were pleased with the meeting.
"Whatever is decided I will agree with it," Witter said.
The PNP candidate for West St. Thomas Rosemarie Shaw, and James Robertson of the JLP said the next 11 days leading up to the general election will be peaceful in the constituency.
"I do believe that all will go well and hope that the elections will be able to go on," Shaw said.
No ultimatums
At the same time, while no ultimatums were given, Bishop Blair said that "nothing has been ruled out, the options are wide open".
He added: "Any assurance I have will come out of the decisions that will be made as a result of the meeting today (yesterday) and those decisions hopefully will come within 48 hours."
Last week, Walker threatened to have the general election postponed in two tension-filled constituencies, one of which was St. Elizabeth South East, if incidents of violence and civil disturbance continue throughout the on-going campaign
