Jamaicans choose new leaders in close, possibly violent elections

KINGSTON, JAMAICA - Former President Jimmy Carter is in Jamaica Wednesday with 59 other international observers keeping an eye on a general election that promises to be close and threatens to be marred by violence. <br> <br> Jamaicans are voting for candidates promising to stem spiraling crime and kick-start a sluggish economy. <br> <br> Prime Minister P.J. Patterson, whose People&#39;s National Party holds a slight edge in polls, hopes to become the first leader elected to three consecutive terms in this Caribbean nation. <br> <br> His opponent, former Prime Minister Edward Seaga, represents the Jamaica Labor Party. He is calling for change to rescue the sluggish tourism industry, create jobs and curb a high murder rate blamed largely on drug traffickers. <br> <br> Many are nervous that violence could break out as party supporters trade insults, and sometime gunfire. But Carter, who won the Nobel Peace Prize last week partly for his efforts to further democracy, said ``Everything seems to be going quite well.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> Carter plans to visit about 40 polling places in the Kingston area. Members of the observer team were expected at about a thousand sites in all. <br> <br> Political violence has dissipated since the 1980 elections, when nearly 800 people were killed. Elections in following years have been less violent.