Delroy Chuck
ON SUNDAY, February 20, Labourites across the island and, I dare say, every well-thinking Jamaican, could feel a sense of pride at the creatively presented conference. It was a masterpiece. The 62nd Annual Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Conference, postponed from November 2004 by a court injunction, and reduced to one day, warmed the heart and lifted the spirits of even the most doubtful party supporter that the JLP has started a new day under a new leader for a new and better Jamaica.
From midday to the end of the conference at just after 4:00 p.m., the atmosphere was simply
electrifying.
COMING ALIVE
It did not start well. We were told to be in the arena at 9:00 a.m. for registration with a scheduled start time of 10:00 a.m. for the private session. I take my role as MP seriously and organise my constituency well. I took my 100-plus delegates for breakfast at 7:30, and after prayers and petitions for peace and blessings, arrived at the empty arena at 9:00 a.m. For the next hour and 15 minutes, I was the only MP around while a few hundred delegates milled around the empty spaces. I worried, got the newspapers and buried my head into them. At just before 11:00 a.m., everything came alive, bus loads of delegates simply descended on the stadium, and by 11. 30 a.m., the arena was packed.
When tribute was paid to the outgoing leader, the Most Honourable Edward Seaga, at just before midday, conference erupted into thunderous applause. But the leader who had served the party so faithfully and well was missing and not scheduled to appear. Delegate after delegate asked me to make another plea for Mr. Seaga to come. The 62nd JLP Conference would not be complete without his final fare-well and a ceremonial handing over of the baton of leadership.
At 1:10 p.m., I left the stage, approached Senator Prudence Kidd-Deans and Babsy Grange, MP, at the back of the arena and emphasised the urgency for the presence of the former leader. Poor Babsy, her voice choking on the cellphone, pleaded, beseeched, and even threatened that the three of us would come for him. Then, suddenly, at 1:15 p.m., it is agreed, he would be there. I returned to my seat on stage in great expectation, as I knew conference would come alive and the day would be complete if Mr. Seaga made an appearance.
TREMENDOUS RECEPTION
At 1:45 the new leader, Bruce Golding, confirmed only hours before, entered the arena to a tremendous reception. He barely settled down when the back of arena burst into cheers, with screams of 'A Eddie! a Eddie! A Eddie!', and the former leader emerged and entered to the sounds of Tina Turner's Simply the Best. The arena was simply electrified. Edward Seaga took his place on the platform briefly, gave his farewell speech, thanked the delegates, closed the missing links in the passing on of leadership on the conference floor, and slowly made his final exit. It was a moment of euphoria, high-fives, tears of joy and unpackaged emotions that could never have been choreographed. It provided the atmosphere to welcome the new leader, Bruce Golding, and to listen to a great speech, setting out a full agenda of issues and renewed hope.
Bruce Golding's first speech as leader should be fully analysed. It started at around 3:00 p.m. and lasted just over an hour. It provides material for political pundits to examine the JLP's path to wealth-creation and prosperity, cooperation and collaboration, peace and security, justice and human dignity, education and the lifting of every Jamaican to feel a part and a stakeholder in the building of a better Jamaica. The challenge to Bruce Golding cannot be underestimated to unite the party, to take the undecided off the political fence, to lead the party to political victory and to inspire the nation to expect and demand excellence and performance instead of mediocrity and cheap talk.
I make no apology in demanding that the prime minister should call the by-election in West Kingston soon to allow Bruce Golding to take his seat in the Lower House, so policy suggestions and prescriptions can be made from Parliament instead of from a hotel ballroom or at conference.
Apart from an unfortunate car accident, the JLP conference was a remarkable success. Delegates and supporters had a wonderful day, returned to their constituencies with enthusiasm, renewed hope and inspired to strengthen the party and prepare for governance, whenever the right time comes.
Delroy Chuck is an attorney-at-law and Opposition member of Parliament. He can be
contacted by email at Delchuck@hotmail.com.
