An eye on elections.

• Position: OAS - Brief article

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A TEAM OF OAS international observers farmed out across Jamaica for the September 3 elections, in which voters gave the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) a narrow victory over the incumbent People's National Party (PNP). Several days later, Bruce Golding was sworn in as the nation's new Prime Minister, succeeding Portia Simpson-Miller.

OAS Assistant Secretary General Albert R. Ramdin, who headed the 38-member Electoral Observation Mission, reported to the Permanent Council that "these elections were extremely well organized and transparent, and every effort was made to promote the participation of all citizens."

The vote had been delayed for a week due to the impact of Hurricane Dean on the island nation.

Despite some acts of violence during the campaign period, election day itself was peaceful, Ramdin said. "It is...