United States Ambassador to Jamaica, Brenda LaGrange Johnson, speaks to Canadian High Commissioner Denis Kingsley (right) while Fabian Brown (second right), director and parish coordinator of the St. Andrew chapter of Citizens' Action for Free and Fair Elections (CAFFE), looks on. At left is Dr. Lloyd Barnett, chairman of CAFFE. Occasion was a CAFFE press launch of its recruitment and mobilisation campaign ahead of the general election, at the Hilton hotel, New Kingston, yesterday. - Rudolph Brown/Chief Photographer

Chairman of Citizens Action for Free and Fair Elections (CAFFE), Dr. Lloyd Barnett, has expressed concern at some of the behaviour that has been displayed by political candidates and their supporters on the campaign trail.

Dr. Barnett said yesterday that his organisation would be observing the actions of the politicians and reporting, if necessary, their behaviour to the relevant bodies.

Speaking yesterday at CAFFE's launch of its recruitment and mobilisation campaign, at the Hilton Kingston hotel, Dr. Barnett said some of the actions by those involved in the campaigns are not necessary, and bode ill for the country.

Appeal for peace

"CAFFE is appealing to all to maintain a peaceful election campaign. We are asking all Jamaica to assist so that we do not plunge into an election campaign period that is characterised by violence, tension and crime," Dr. Barnett said.

The civic group, which has been independently observing elections since 1997, said its aim for the upcoming election is to have an observer in every polling station across the country. The group, however, still needs 1,850 volunteers, and says it will have several meetings across the country in the upcoming weeks to recruit additional volunteers.