Leading to Election Day

Prime Minister P.J. Patterson is accompanied by a bodyguard on his way to deliver a letter to Governor-General Sir Howard Cooke yesterday at Kings House, advising him to dissolve Parliament with immediate effect, ahead of the Wednesday, October 16 general election.

Mr. Patterson announced the date for the election Sunday night at a mass meeting in Half-Way Tree Square.

Once Parliament is dissolved by proclamation by the Governor-General, on the advice of the Prime Minister, Mr. Patterson must call the general election of Members of the House of Representatives within three months. In this case, the election will take place a mere 24 days from yesterday's dissolution.

Also, Nomination Day must take place a clear five days after the announcement of the election date, in this case, on Monday, September 30. Election Day must be a minimum of 16 or a maximum of 23 days after Nomination Day, according to the Representation of the People Act.

On receiving the letter from the Prime Minister, the Governor-General issues a writ of election, a document that authorises the election. It contains the date of Nomination Day as well as Election Day, and is sent to the Electoral Office of Jamaica (EOJ) where an election notice is published advising the public of both dates.