Active hurricane season could affect elections in Jamaica
By Jamaican Gleaner
Wed, 11 Jul 2007, 09:42
Source: http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20070711/news/news5.html
With the 2007 hurricane season predicted to be an active one, there is chance that the August 27 general election could be affected by a storm.
As a result, the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) has advised that a back-up date should be set in the event of a natural disaster.
According to Ronald Jackson, acting director general at the ODPEM, the late-August to early-September period is usually very active.
"Historically, hurricane season activities tend to pick up around that time and, given the uncertainty as to where a system will track, as far as I am concerned, every country within the Western Caribbean is in fact at the same probability of risk of an impact of a storm once it comes through the Eastern Caribbean and heads to the west," Jackson explained.
He said once a storm comes off Africa, no one knows where it will track and, therefore, there is a high probability that it could affect the Caribbean.
"Most of the time it shifts in our favour and goes elsewhere, but you never know when that particular storm is going to be a 'Charlie' of 1951 or 'Gilbert' or even an 'Ivan'," he said. "So you plan these major events with one eye on the possibility of a major tropical storm or hurricane developing and coming through and affecting your event."
Extending the election
He added: "If we were to be hit by a major hurricane then certainly, the recovery of the nation will be a primary concern and will be priority and an election would have to be extended beyond the recovery period."
According to the Representation of The People Act, the Governor-General may grant a delay in the election if there is an earthquake, hurricane or flood, among other reasons.
The Governor-General may postpone the poll up to 30 days after the originally announced election day.
According to the United States' National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, there could be 13 to 17 tropical storms this season, with seven to 10 developing into hurricanes. Three to five could be major ones of Category 3 or higher with winds over 110 mph (177 kmh).