A Delegation from the Carter Centre comprising former US President Jimmy Carter and Colin Powell, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, will visit Jamaica to observe the elections on December 18.

Mr. Carter said: "The Carter Centre comes to Jamaica to support its long democratic tradition, with hope that the presence of the international community will deter any threats of violence of fraud. We are completely neutral with regard to the outcome of the election, but we are devoted to the democratic process and to supporting Jamaican democracy."

For his part, General Powell said: "Jamaicans have a vibrant democratic tradition, which they are determined to preserve and protect. I am pleased to return to the birthplace of my parents to work with all Jamaicans in raising their confidence in the electoral process and to discourage political violence and acts of intimidation."

Other members participating in the observation mission are former Belizian Prime Minister George Price, former Costa Rican President Rodrigo Carazo and former Bolivian President Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada. In addition, three Council members will send representatives.

The Carter Centre set up an office in Kingston on November 21 and delegates have been travelling to Jamaica since that time. The main body of the delegation, however, will arrive in Jamaica on December 15 for briefings and will deploy in about 25 separate teams on December 17 throughout the country from 'garrison constituencies' to contested areas, from the north coast to rural villages, the release said.

Pre-election mission

There have been three pre-election missions - two led by Dr. Robert Pastor, director of the Centre's Latin American and Caribbean Programme, from September 10 - 13 and November 21 - 26 - and the third, which is currently in the island, led by the Rev. Joseph Lowery, president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.

Dr. Pastor said: "We were persuaded to observe the elections by many Jamaicans, who feared that violence and intimidation could affect the result and endanger their cherished democracy."

"With a delegation led by President Carter, General Powell, who views Jamaica as his 'second home' and leaders from Canada, the Caribbean, Central and South America, we hope that Jamaicans will be encouraged to vote peacefully and demonstrate to the world their determination to consign electoral violence and intimidation to the past," he said.

The delegation is expected to meet with leaders from the major political parties, Citizens Action for Free and Fair Elections (CAFFE), the Commissioner of Police, the EAC and the Director of Elections and others.

The Carter Centre mission to Jamaica is funded by grants from the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).