JAMAICA AGRICULTURAL Society (JAS) board members, Dr. Omer Thomas and Senator Norman Grant square off at today's 108th Annual General Meeting for the post of president.
Dr. Thomas, executive director of Jamaica Bureau of Standards but who has almost $85 million invested in agriculture, is the underdog in the race mainly due to the fact that he is not only relatively new to the board, but he is also going up against a traditionally strong People's National Party machinery.
Senator Grant, an accountant who was appointed a PNP Senator in 2002, narrowly lost to incumbent A.A. 'Bobby' Pottinger in the controversial 2000 poll. He now has the support of that PNP leadership machinery which intends to maintain their traditional control.
PARTISAN TAG
Senator Grant has sought to release the partisan tag from around his candidature by reflecting on his long association with the agricultural sector. He insists that his record does not reflect any political bias. He currently heads the St. Andrew Branch Society of the JAS. But, critics point to the fact that his running mate is St. James branch president, Glendon Harris, PNP Councillor for Maroon Town, St. James.
Dr. Thomas, a plant pathologist, believes that the two things going against him in this race are: partisan politics and the JAS electoral system.
The 2000 election was untidy. More than 300 votes were cast, when only 276 delegates were on the voter's list. Yet, the board voted 11 to three not to hold fresh elections, after Mr. Pottinger scored 172 votes to Mr. Grant's 120, with 57 ballots declared spoilt.
Dr. Thomas said Monday that he was very disturbed that the board did not carry out its 2000 mandate to let the Electoral Office of Jamaica (EOJ) run today's election. Instead, the JAS has invited former Director of Elections, Noel Lee, to advise them on the poll. But, Dr. Thomas thinks this is not good enough.
"It is a problem for me. A system is not in place. I am hoping for the best, but there is a basic problem - the lack of a credible electoral system," he claimed.
Dr. Thomas' running mate is a former Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Senator, Bob Miller, many times national and St. Ann champion farmer.
