Don’t watch the crowd, caution JLP supporters

Although impressed with the massive crowd that showed up at the Jamaica Labour Party’s (JLP) 81st annual conference, some party supporters say the primary focus should be on getting persons out to vote if the party is to secure another term in office.

The supporters also expressed that the huge turnout was not necessarily a sure indicator of another win for the ruling party.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness, the leader of the JLP, ramped up anticipation surrounding the date for the election, constitutionally due by September 2025, with the assertion on Sunday that “the decision time” is near.

“The Jamaica Labour Party is the best choice for leading Jamaica. The Jamaica Labour Party is ready for the third term,” Holness told supporters while making an impassioned plea for Jamaicans to give his administration a third term.

However, party faithfuls, who were among supporters crammed inside the National Stadium and overflowing the grounds outside, said the JLP will have to work to get the voters out to secure victory at the polls.

“I feel he is going to win his third term. It seems as if they are ready for a third term,” said 76-year-old returning resident and retired businesswoman, Catherine Bertram.

However, while admitting that she was pleased with the crowd, she said it was important not to focus on the size, as the Democratic party in United States had the crowd but Donald Trump swooped in and snatched victory in that country’ presidential election earlier this month.

“I don’t watch crowd, I watch the votes and the voters’ list. Sometimes the crowd is big and there is no victory,” added the North East St Ann constituent.

At the same time, Bertram, who has been attending party conferences since she was in her 20s, said it is also important to observe the crowd “and with this crowd, I don’t hear nobody grumbling”.

According to the senior citizen, coming into the conference, two things were of concern to her – the operations of HEART/NSTA Trust and the Programme of Advancement Through Health and Education (PATH).

Bertram said she was not pleased that the skills training programme had no longer been offered free of cost as was originally designed and that persons who really needed PATH assistance were not being accepted because of the design of their houses and the kinds of furniture they had.

NOT WITH PLEASED WITH ACTIONS

However, she said she was pleased to hear reports that the institution has waived its fees and that more persons were receiving help from PATH.

“Big speech don’t win elections, is action I want and I see it and I am pleased,” she said.

Echoing similar sentiments was a 64-year-old resident of the St Andrew Eastern constituency who gave his name only as Paul.

“This crowd looking good but it nuh mean nothing. A come dem fi come out come vote,” he said.

Paul said that, in the past, he has witnessed huge crowds that were beefed up by People’s National Party (PNP) supporters dressed in green and had seen known diehard PNP supporters at JLP conferences.

Paul stressed that not everyone is as loyal as he as he attends the conferences annually without any incentive.

“Mi a die-hearted Labourite. Mi always a vote although mi nuh get nothing. If you notice, not even shirt mi nuh inna. Is mi camouflage suit dis wey mi have from long time mi wear and a walk mi walk to the stadium as mi live nearby and, if mi want a bottle a water, mi affi buy it,” he said.

CONFIDENT OF VICTORY

However, the party loyalist said he was confident that the JLP can secure another victory.

“Dem a de better government, de betta politician. Di odda party dem nuh do nothing fi de government and, if you check it, a di young people vote in dis government.

“Since him [Holness] tek it, de country a do good. Him caa correct everything but, gi him a chance, him can fix things,” Paul said, echoing the message of several of the speakers at the conference.

For retired Deputy Superintendent of Police Christopher Bowen, the crowd was one of the biggest he has ever seen.

Based on his estimation, the size of the crowd on the outside was two and a half times the capacity of the National Arena.

Asked how he compared the crowd at the PNP’s conference in September to the JLP crowd on Sunday, he said, “This is bigger. I believe somady trouble ants nest. Next, notice the Maroons were out and we never use nuh ex-convict, we use a festival winner.”

However, the former chairman of the Special Constabulary Force Association, said, “I want to encourage persons not to watch the crowd, they must go out go vote.”

The crowd, he said, was a signal that the party is re-energised. He added that he would love for a poll to be conducted now to see what the results would show.

Further, the South West St Ann constituent said he was confident that the JLP has done enough to secure victory.

Based on what I have seen, as a 61-year-old negotiator, the party is in good stead to secure victory once persons don’t chop the line and buy out the party,” he said. “If we have a free and fair election and if the other party go without cash, once they go there with achievements this party will come out the victor.”

Bowen said a critical achievement for the Government is the increase in wages and compensation for public sector workers.

“I’ve sat through eight salary negotiation exercises and I’ve never seen this level of compensation for government workers.

“As a pensioner and a former negotiator of the police force, with likkle touch and go allowance that never add up to the benefit of pensioners, things have changed for the benefit of every pensioners,” he added.

tanesha.mundle@gleanerjm.com