KINGSTON (CMC):
THE JAMAICA Labour Party (JLP) said it will kick off its election campaign early next year.
The next general election is constitutionally due by 2007.
"The JLP campaign will begin in January," said Opposition Leader Bruce Golding on Sunday. "We are putting all arrangements in place to sustain that campaign for as long as it needs to be sustained. We are taking the message to the people."
Golding told party supporters in Clarendon that the JLP would intensify its protests in order to force the Government to respond to concerns regarding several critical issues.
MAYORS TEAR-GASSED
His comments came against the background of last week's incident in which several JLP mayors were tear-gassed by the police.
Golding, who was overseas at the time, commended the mayors on the stance taken, but advised party supporters that they should brace for more abuse as the party intensifies its protests.
"When Bustamante was fighting for the rights of the working class people of Jamaica, he couldn't do it by sitting down," Golding said. "He had to go on the streets, and this is Bustamante's party; he has taught us how we have to fight for the people."
