The ruling People's National Party has been in office since 1989, and its 2002 victory constituted the first time a Jamaican party achieved a fourth consecutive reelection. The Jamaican Labour Party (JLP) has been out of power for 14 years.
Past Prgrams
With USAID support, NDI has provided technical and financial assistance to the domestic observation organization Citizen Action for Free and Fair Elections (CAFFE) in the areas of: volunteer recruitment; training and organizational development to monitor the December 1997 general elections, the September 1998 local elections and the 2002 general elections. In the weeks leading up to the 1997 elections, NDI helped CAFFE recruit more than 2,000 volunteers and deploy 965 observers on election day. For the September 1998 local elections, NDI helped CAFFE consolidate its volunteer and funding base. NDI’s technical assistance in 2002 focused on strategic planning, recruitment and training of volunteers, and election day operations. It is widely accepted that CAFFE’s efforts strengthen voter confidence and help reduce political tension and violence.
In addition, NDI worked with the Jamaican Chamber of Commerce (JCC) in the organization of political debates. The goal of this program was to help the JCC increase citizen awareness and participation in the political process. NDI provided the JCC with technical assistance in debate strategic planning, grassroots organizing, as well as the training of moderators.
Contact Information
For more information on NDI's programs in the Jamaica please contact:
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