JLP hoping to win back supporters

Officials of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) will be pulling out all the stops to get scores of grass-roots Labourites to attend the public session of its 67th annual conference this Sunday.

The party will be spending more than $10 million to host the event but it is aware that some disgruntled supporters could stay away.

"It is a concern but we are not overly concerned," JLP General Secretary Karl Samuda told journalists during a media briefing yesterday.

Samuda said the party accepts that some of its supporters are disappointed with developments since its electoral victory in 2007, but he argued that these supporters understand that the problems are not the making of the administration.

No division

According to Samuda, despite the issues including the fallout from last week's deputy leadership contest in Area Council 4, the JLP is neither divided nor in a state of turmoil.

"We may have individuals who are upset, and understandably so, but to exaggerate the situation and to pull it out of all proportions ... is something that we do not intend to support in any way, shape or form, regardless of who the person is," Samuda said.

Under the theme 'Rebuilding For Growth' the JLP leaders will outline their vision at the conference scheduled to begin shortly before midday on Sunday.

The party leader, Prime Minister Bruce Golding, is slated to take the stage at 2 p.m. for a presentation that should signal the start of efforts by the JLP leadership to reconnect with its core support.

The party has again promised strong security for the conference to prevent any violent incidents.

But the man in charge of activities for the conference, Russell Hadeed, said the security arrangements are being done in such a way to prevent a repeat of last year when persons had problems entering and leaving the arena.