Gerald Watt, head of CARICOM Observer Mission, addresses a press briefing at the Courtleigh Hotel on the group's observation of Monday's general elections. Looking on is Carson Raggie (left), chief elections officer from St. Lucia. - Junior Dowie / Staff Photographer

Local and international observers yesterday described Monday's general elections as transparent and said the polls were a success.

The groups made the disclosure of their findings during three separate press conferences.

Citizens' Action for Free and Fair Elections (CAFFE), a local group, said there were no widespread incidents of voter irregularities at polling stations where its staff was present.

"Election Day started on a positive note and that general trend continued throughout the day," said CAFFE spokesperson, Anton Thomas. The group, however, noted two incidents of violence which took place on Deanery Avenue in St. Andrew South East and in North East St. Ann.

Minor variations - CARICOM observer

Gerald Watt, head of the CARICOM observer mission, said his eight-member team found the election to be transparent.

"In general, voting procedures were followed, with minor variations and few infractions," he said.

"The transparency of the voting process was ensured and the secrecy of the ballot was also respected," he added. "The voting process was also peaceful, especially with the presence of the security officers at polling stations and more so in the troubled so-called hot spots."

He said, while the management of the polling stations was generally efficient, the administrative competence of some presiding officers was below acceptable levels.

The team, which was deployed in the parishes of Kingston, St. Andrew and St. Catherine, said it encountered no violence or disorderly conduct during its tours and inspections on election day.

Professional and transparent - OAS

Ambassador Albert Ramdin

The Organisation of American States (OAS) also commended the electoral process and declared that it was conducted in a "professional and transparent manner" .

The OAS Electoral Observer Mission, led by Albert Ramdin, assistant general secretary of the OAS, visited 53 of the 60 constituencies throughout the country.

Mr. Ramdin yesterday told The Gleaner that Jamaica's elections "could very well be characterised as one of the best in the region".

Despite the success of the election, however, Mr. Ramdin said he would be making a few recommendations that he believes would help to make the process more effective.

One such recommendation, he said, was that individuals should be able to use more than one form of identification. Mr. Ramdin said several individuals turned up to the polling stations without their voter's ID and, as such, were asked to take an oath and be fingerprinted as a means of identification. The OAS assistant general secretary said while this was an effective method it was also quite time consuming.