The Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) will stage its 64th annual conference at the National Arena tomorrow, its first major event following the party's victory in the September 3 general election.

The conference is being held a day before nomination day for the local government election, which is slated for December 5.

With a carnival-like atmosphere expected, thousands of supporters will converge on the venue to hear party leader, Prime Minister Bruce Golding, and other JLP stalwarts address national issues.

Police presence

The police will be out in full view at tomorrow's conference.

Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Owen Ellington said the police met with JLP officials and will be assisting in traffic arrangements, crowd control, venue and external security.

The staging of political conferences has always been marked with fanfare, colour, celebration and, in recent times, bodies protruding from vehicles and reckless and dangerous driving on the roadways. The practice, which was widespread in the recent general election campaign, claimed the life of one individual.

Lloyd Richards, 47, who was protruding from a minibus in a JLP motorcade, had his head smashed by a bamboo in Holland Bamboo, St. Elizabeth, in July.

ACP Ellington said that he would be encouraging his officers to prosecute anyone who breaks the law on Sunday with regard to this practice.

He also said that special emphasis would be placed on policing politically troubled zones. "We have identified political hot spots and critical routes that are likely to be vulnerable, and we will deter any person from committing crime."

The ACP also said that no roads would be closed for the duration of the conference. The Jamaica Urban Transit Company, through its public relations office, also advised The Gleaner that it was not aware of any traffic changes and, as such, there would be no route changes.