THE NEVILLE HALL LECTURE THEATRE, UWI, MONA, NOVEMEBER 16, 2023
The Presenters
Elections and Governance: Jamaica on the Global Frontier, the Colonial Years, 1663-1962 was launched at the Mona Campus of the University of the West Indies on November 16, 2023, exactly one year after the Launch of Elections and Governance: Jamaica on the Global Frontier, the Independent Years, 1962-2016 on November 17, 2022, at the Regional Headquarters of the University of the West Indies.
Both books are published by Ian Randle Publishers. Together they tell a continuous story of elections and civil governance in Jamaica first as a British colony from 1663 to 1962 and second from1962 to 2022, its sixtieth anniversary as a sovereign nation. Both books employ a multidiscipline approach, treat Jamaica as a place, Jamaicans as a people and define Jamaicans as those who, irrespective of place of birth regard Jamaica as home, where they belong.
Over the 350 odd years covered by both books the principal focus is on two fundamentals. First, changing constitutional criteria that defined citizens and residents who were
- Eligible to be candidates for elected office
- Eligible to vote
- Constitutionally excluded from being candidates or voters
- Eligible to be candidates who offered themselves as candidates,
- Eligible to vote who registered to vote
- Registered voters who voted
- Officials with the statutory obligation to conduct elections.
Second, elections different from democracy. During the Colonial Years British officials were never out of power. The emergency of democratic governance following universal adult suffrage and within the tradition and practice of constitutionally prescribed elections.
Each Launch had authenticity of its own. This was appropriately captured and articulated by Dr Marcia Rainford, Director of the School of Education, Mona in giving the Vote of Thanks at the Launch of the Colonial Years on November 16, 2023. Dr Rainford highlighted the wide array of speakers, the engaging additional information and personal perspective each brought to their presentation, the intellectual stimulation that resulted and the expert precision of the conduct of the event.
Each Launch was unique.
- At the Launch of Elections and Governance: Jamaica on the Global Frontier, the Colonial Years 1663-1962 on the Mona Campus on November 16, 2023, Mr Christopher Kelman, Managing Partner of the highly respected law firm Myers Fletcher and Gordon announced the annual award of a scholarship in honour of Dr. the Honourable Dorothy Pine-McLarty for research in elections and governance by a graduate student. Dr the Hon Pine McLarty was a former Selected Member of the Electoral Advisory Committee and the Electoral Commission as well as the first female Chairman of the latter, first female Partner of Myers Fletcher and Gordon and Founding Partner of Myers Fletcher and Gordon in the United Kingdom.
- The event was sponsored by Pioneer Manufacturing and Distribution Company whose founder and Managing Director, Mr. Alfred Thomas, made presentations.
- Heavy rains fell all day on Thursday November 16, 2023. Jamaica was under Hurricane Warning. The Launch was scheduled for 6.00 pm. The event started almost on-time. The Neville Hall Lecture Theatre, the largest in the Faculty of Humanities and Education, was better than half full. This was considered remarkable given the penchant of Jamaicans to avoid going out in heavy rain, especially at night, and more so in circumstances of a Hurricane Watch.
The Most Honourable P. J. Patterson, ON KC former Prime Minister of Jamaica and former President of the Peoples National Party (PNP) wrote the Prelude which connected both books. The Honourable Bruce Golding for Prime Minister of Jamaica, for President of the National Democratic Movement (NDM) and former Leader of the Jamaica Labour Party wrote the Foreword of Elections and Governance: Jamaica on the Global Frontier, the Independent Years, 1962-2016. Professor Sir Hilary Beckles Vice Chancellor of the University of the West Indies and Chairman of the CARICOM Reparations Commission wrote the Foreword of the Elections and Governance: Jamaica on the Global Frontier the Colonial Years, 1663-1962 was the Keynote Speaker at both Launches.
