By Leonardo Blair, Staff Reporter
THE CURTAIN came down on the final day of the Jamaica Labour Party's 60th Annual Conference in a euphoric swirl of religious fanaticism, worldly praise and what some referred to as "an abundance of hope" yesterday.
A hope some JLP supporters feel will be realised with the ousting of former deputy leaders Olivia 'Babsy' Grange of Area Council Two and Edmund Bartlett of Area Council Four by MPs James Robertson and Dr. Horace Chang, respectively.
Many of the supporters carried green branches sprouting green leaves into the arena as a symbol of their new found faith which was grounded in the two men they had voted into the leadership ranks of the party a day earlier.
In the midst of wild cheers, partying and an atmosphere intoxicated by heavy ganja smoke and dancehall music, a few of the sober ones who watched the party declared that they were banking on the youth, particularly of Mr. Robertson, to help change their "suffering condition."
"Mr. Robertson signal a little hope for us because me just feel like say him will push up a little more work fi the young people them, because a whole lot of young people not working," said 48-year-old farmer from St. Thomas, Ruby Watson.
"I have three kids and I don't really have a job. Mi write note sometime give them (kids) so that them can get the free lunch or sometime mi make them come home half-day," said Mary Coleman from May Pen, Clarendon. "Me ah hope fi something good yes. Me hoping that Robertson can do something because him young."
But while these women sat pontificating about new beginnings, others were celebrating victories of change, not a change of life but a change of personalities who they knew or their friends knew. The activity on the floor of the arena was like a huge marketplace. Almost everything was for sale.
Young men openly hawked 'hi-grade' ganja as supporters made their way along the aisles and stairways while liquor, peanut, shrimp and biscuit vendors lined every other passageway.
POLITICAL PERSONALITY
As each new political personality approached the podium, the only message that awakened many in the crowd from their little agendas were the spurts of dancehall and reggae music which welcomed the speeches.
But in all the celebrations even the rousing reception given to party leader Edward Seaga as he made his grand entrance into the Arena at about 1 p.m. amid the clanging of dutch pots it was clear that it would not be business as usual in the party anymore.
What is clear, though, is that Senator Bruce Golding and the man many see as the likely successor to Mr. Seaga as leader of the JLP, has emerged as a bigger than life figure within the party. One could hardly tell the difference in the crowd support for the JLP Senator as he was regally ushered into the arena in the same manner as Mr. Seaga was with his wife.
In the words of Mr. Robertson as he spoke to the clamouring crowd, "The JLP has been strengthened by the infusion of new blood in the leadership ranks. I represent hope...I make no apologies for my campaign. I worked hard and my team worked hard."
At the end of the conference, the supporters took to the streets and danced.
