In the aftermath of Hurricane Dean and in the run-up to a national election, the country needs decisive leadership and quick and effective communication. The country is getting neither of these at this time.

The Electoral Commission of Jamaica, a body on which both leading parties have represen-tatives, has, we understand, recommended Monday, September 3, to be the new date for our 15th general election since Independence. This advice apparently has not met with the support of the Prime Minister and her Cabinet. The result is that 12 days before this election, if September 3 is the date, the citizens of the country do not know officially when they are going to be able to exercise their vote.

Further, government communications in dealing with Hurricane Dean have been just short of disastrous. The Prime Minister's communication with the nation has been haphazard at best. The first major address to the nation dealing with hurricane relief was delivered late Wednesday with some broadcast media getting the recorded message nearly two hours after the original set time. Even making allowances for dislocations and collating of information, there is every indication of much chaos in the business of governance at this time. This is not good enough.

Earlier, the Prime Minister announced a national state of emergency without having the regulations relating to this available for the public to see. They have just been published. Further, the grounds given for calling the state of eemergency - the fear of widespread crime - have not materialised.

The Jamaica Constabulary Force, the main keepers of law and order in Jamaica, has yet to make a statement as to whether it supported a national state of emergency or one that was limited to the more likely areas of crime, such as Kingston and the rural areas which have been most affected by the storm.

Curfews have been announced without giving the public details as to the precise applicable geographic areas and the times of these curfews. The result of this: The public does not know what the laws of the land are and how to follow them.

It is our view that the use of curfews is quite justifiable but the law-enforcement agencies must ensure that citizens of Jamaica know precisely which areas are under curfew and the time frame of the curfew.

There appears to be no ongoing justification for maintaining a state of emergency and so suspending many of the human rights of our citizens. As a country, we do not want to go back to the 1970s when there was widespread abuse of human rights and limitations to a free press.

If the Prime Minister wishes to protect the interests of Jamaica, she will instruct that the state of emergency be immediately withdrawn. If she fails to do this, then every citizen of Jamaica should be concerned as to whether the Government intends to continue the state of emergency through the parliamentary election.

Jamaica, in its 45th year of Independence, demands that its leadership be decisive and rational.