Jamaican electors may notice a difference in behaviour of election day workers who were once termed as one-day police, Danville Walker, director of elections, said yesterday.

He was speaking at a Gleaner Editors' Forum at the newspaper company's North Street head office in central Kingston.

Now referred to as polling station security assistants, Mr. Walker said that some 8,000 persons were recruited to fill this post. They will assist members of the security forces on election day.

Reforming the programme

Mr. Walker explained that in reforming the programme, the Electoral Office of Jamaica met with members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force to revamp the initiative.

"Leading up to this election, we wanted to be a part of the recruitment and screening of the one-day policemen. We wanted to train them," Mr. Walker said.

"When we look at the 2002 election, security was one of those areas that impacted tremendously on the election, but it was not in our hands," the elections boss noted.

The current batch of security assistants must report to work on time come August 27, the day of the general election, or they will not be paid, Mr. Walker revealed.

"These are not policemen or security guards. These are persons who are upstanding people in the community, who are going to come and treat the electors with respect, with courtesy and encourage respect from them," he said.

"... If there is a security problem call the real police," he charged them.

Polling station security assistants are among the approximately 30,000 persons who will vote on August 21, the day designated for election day workers and members of the security forces to cast their ballots.