PNP, JLP wrap up campaigns in Kgn
published: Wednesday | June 18, 2003
Prime Minister P.J. Patterson knocks fists with a party supporter while on the last round of campaigning for the Local Government elections on Berkley Avenue, Vineyard Town, yesterday. - Ian Allen/Staff Photographer
THE TWO major political parties wrapped up their campaigns in Kingston yesterday with motorcades through the Corporate Area, where a closely fought battle is expected for control of the Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation.
Both parties drew out hundreds of supporters clad in their respective colours, orange for the People's National Party (PNP) and green for the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) as the respective caravans meandered through the city urging supporters to turn out to vote tomorrow.
With just a matter of hours to go before Jamaicans cast their ballots in tomorrow's Local Government elections, President of the People's National Party (PNP) P.J Patterson, says the winner will depend on who gets the most voters out.
Mr. Patterson said the PNP has no plans to relinquish its control of Local Government. The PNP President, who made a brief stop to address a moderate sized crowd in McGregor Gully, East Kingston noted that the enthusiasm was somewhat low-keyed as is normal. "However, we are seeing a livening-up of the interest in the field, so to speak," he said. "I think the test will be who gets the voters out on election day," he added.
He said that the emphasis was on winning the votes of the people in marginal constituencies. "We have to target particular divisions even in the constituencies where we were not successful (in the general election)."
The tour, which started in Papine, travelled to various divisions throughout the Kingston and St. Andrew municipality, before stopping in Bull Bay, East Rural St. Andrew. The tour culminated with a rally in Rae Town square, Central Kingston.
In a final bid to persuade voters, Mr. Patterson told the people: "On Thursday get up early, go to the polls and, after you have voted come and find the other comrades who have not yet done so and persuade them to come out and vote, so that we can win in significant numbers."
Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Leader, Edward Seaga and his wife, Carla, are joined by Tivoli Gardens Councillor Desmond McKenzie (left) and other supporters as their motorcade kicked-off in Ten Miles, Bull Bay, East Rural St. Andrew, yesterday. - Norman Grindley /Staff Photographer
Meanwhile, the 10-mile community in Bull Bay, St. Andrew, was temporarily transformed into a sea of flag waving JLP supporters, yesterday.
Despite the late start, the campaign train revved-up immediately after the arrival of Opposition Leader, Edward Seaga, and his wife, Carla.
Revelling party supporters, some with their bodies protruding from the windows of buses, vans and motorcars, gyrated, sang party songs and rang their bells, as the designated routes took them through a number of JLP strongholds, stretching from Bull Bay, "Southside" in Central Kingston and Grants Pen in St. Andrew.
The campaign train came to a halt at the intersection of Darling Street and Spanish Town Road, where a mass meeting was held. Up to the point when Mr. Seaga and his entourage left "Southside," the motorcade was incident free. The only distraction was when the campaign passed through sections of the Bull Bay main road and Rae Town, they were jeered by persons standing along the roadside.
