( L - R ) Miller and Blair

Edmond Campbell, News Coordinator

Established rules governing the electoral process will not be flouted by anyone in the upcoming general election, according to the Electoral Commission, which says it intends to conduct an orderly and fair election, constitutionally due by November 13 this year.

Chairman of the commission, Professor Errol Miller, made it clear yesterday that there would be no "celebrities" on election day.

He was speaking at the inaugural Congress for Peace and Justice seminar hosted by the Peace Management Initiative (PMI) at the Jamaica Conference Centre, downtown Kingston.

"You do not need to tell us on election day: Do you know who I am? If you are on the voters list, we know who you are, and if you are not on the voters list, it really doesn't matter who you are," he said.

"On election day, every citizen is equal, from minister to messenger, from deacon to don, from president to peasant, everybody is on one ground," he added.

Professor Miller said the EOJ would improve on its performance in the 2002 General Election, at which time 92 per cent of polling stations were opened at 7:00 a.m.

Sending a direct message to politicians, Professor Miller reminded them that breaches of the Representation of the People Act would attract sanctions.

"Therefore, if we issue a yellow card," said Professor Miller, "watch out, because if you continue, we will issue the red card."

In his remarks, Bishop Herro Blair, political ombudsman and chairman of the PMI, called on Jamaicans to play their part in ensuring a peaceful period leading up to the election and beyond.

However, he pledged to remain "vigilant and resolute in my stance of insisting on full compliance and adherence to the Political Code of Conduct."

edmond.campbell@gleanerjm.com