Senate President, Tom Tavares-Finson announces retirement as ECJ Commissioner come this Saturday
/ Our Today
administrator
President of Jamaica’s upper House of Parliament, Senator Tom Tavares-Finson, the governing Jamaica Labour Party’s (JLP’s) longest-serving member on the Electoral Commission of Jamaica (ECJ) is retiring from the body, effective this Saturday, January 31.
This will culminate 20 years of dedicated service by Tavares-Finson to both the ECJ and its predecessor, the Electoral Advisory Committee (EAC). He was first appointed to the EAC in 2005 by the then JLP leader, Bruce Golding, and subsequently to the ECJ in 2006. Upon assuming leadership of the party, Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness continued Tavares-Finson’s appointment.
Over the years, he has served as a party representative during five General Elections along with several Local Government Elections and by-elections.
In a statement this afternoon announcing his retirement, Tavares-Finson said, “It has been a profound honour and privilege to be entrusted with serving for an extended time at a Commission which is at the centre of nation’s democratic processes…I take particular pride in my contributions to the development and implementation of the Electronic Voter Identification system, the Political Party Registration process, Campaign Finance Regulations, and the broader enhancement of Jamaica’s democratic legal and electoral framework.”
Continuing, Tavares Finson, remarked, “It has been a genuine privilege to serve alongside distinguished chairpersons, including Professor Errol Miller, Dr Herbert Thompson, Dorothy Pine-McLarty, and Earl Jarrett. I have also been fortunate to collaborate with dedicated colleagues from both major political parties including Danny Buchanan, DK Duncan, and Dr Aundre Franklin, as well as the many committed Jamaicans who have served as selected members and directors of elections.”
He expressed gratitude to the staff of the EOJ and the ECJ, whose unwavering commitment has ensured the growth, integrity, and enduring strength of this vital national institution, highlighting, “the ECJ has grown from strength to strength. It is a vital pillar of Jamaica’s democratic process, which must be preserved. Jamaica and our democratic process must come first, always.”
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