Former US president Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalynn are expected to arrive in the island today, while former Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Colin Powell is expected tomorrow, as they lead the 55-member team from the Carter Centre to observe Thursday's general election.

Rev. Evander Holyfield, IBF and WBA boxing champion, will also be one of the international observers for Thursday's polls.

Mr. Carter, who will speak at a press briefing later today at the Wyndham Kingston, in a message released to the Jamaican people yesterday said, "I would like to encourage all Jamaicans, who are registered, to vote."

"Jamaica is a country blessed with a long and rich democratic tradition, but it has been recently marred by violence and intimidation. We find the emergence of civic groups like CAFFE an encouraging sign that Jamaicans want this election to be free of violence, and our delegation is coming to contribute to building a climate of peace", Mr. Carter said.

The group of nearly 60 observers will visit as many polling sites as possible, including garrison communities and contested constituencies, to witness the entire process, including: preparations to open the polls in the early morning, voting procedures, and the counting of votes. The group hopes "that polling agents of all the parties will be at all the polling stations," he said.

"We hope to see you at the polls. You, Jamaicans, will determine who will win the election. We are impartial with regard to the outcome of the election. Our only hope is that we will contribute to a fair, open and free process.

"My wife, Rosalynn, and I look forward to seeing you. Please share our prayer for a peaceful and tolerant election - one that honours the democratic tradition of your country", the former US president said.

The three other national leaders at the head of the delegation are former Belize Prime Minister George Price, former Costa Rican President Rodrigo Carazo, and former Bolivian president Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada.

According to the Carter Centre, most of the members of the delegation were expected in the island yesterday and the remainder will arrive through today until tomorrow.