With a general election constitutionally due by November 13, thousands of men and women from across the island have been recruited to work on election day.

At present, tertiary-level students and professionals are being trained to fill different capacitiessuch as polling station security assistants (one-day police), poll clerks, presiding officers and machine operators.

Mission to remove activists

To date, the Electoral Office of Jamaica (EOJ) has registered approximately 94 per cent of the 10,238 'police' required.

Separately, roughly 19,000 persons have been trained to work in other areas on election day.

Speaking with The Gleaner yesterday, Danville Walker, director of elections, said the EOJ was on a mission to remove all political activists from among official election day workers.

"We start training of workers as soon as we recruit. Once we recruit and they are interviewed, they are sent to training seminars immediately," said Mr. Walker.

Takeese Gilpin-Allen, public education officer at the EOJ, also noted that the hired workers would tremendously assist in ensuring that the day's proceedings run smoothly.

"These workers will be manning the approximately 7,000 polling stations across Jamaica," said Mrs. Gilpin-Allen.

In addition, by the end of the month, the EOJ is anticipating another 3,000 workers to serve in the Kingston and St. Andrew and St. Catherine regions.

The electoral office began advertising about two weeks ago for these workers and several persons have so far responded, said Mr. Walker.

Specialist workers

Specialist workers will be employed to work in constituencies other than where they reside. Currently, the EOJ is offering approximately $5,000 to poll clerks while presiding officers and machine operators will each receive about $7,500 for the day's work.

Successful applicants will also be paid $500 for each day's training and an additional $1,500 for mandatory simulation training.