JLP gears up for Sunday’s annual conference
LEADER of the Opposition Andrew Holness and the Jamaica Labour Party’s (JLP) candidate for Central Westmoreland, financial consultant Faye Reid Jacobs, are expected to be the main speakers at Sunday’s 72nd annual conference of the party at the National Arena.
The party leader’s speech would normally be the highlight of the annual meeting as the final event on the programme for the public session, But with Reid Jacobs’ nomination on Wednesday to contest the Central Westmoreland seat, she is expected to make a big impression when she is introduced to the crowd by Holness.
Another highlight of the conference will be a speech by the party’s spokesman on finance, Audley Shaw, who is expected to make a major presentation on the economy, as he critiques the performance of the Government under its Extended Fund Facility agreement with the International Monetary Fund.
The one-day conference starts off with a private morning session to be hosted by its chairman, Senator Robert Montague. Speakers at this session will include general secretary Dr Horace Chang, and treasurer Phillip Henriques, who will update the members on the party’s housekeeping performances.
Conference chairman Desmond McKenzie will take over the reins for the afternoon public session, which will also be addressed by Senator Kavan Gayle, representing the JLP-affiliated Bustamante Industrial Trade Union; Floyd Green, president of the youth affiliate, Generation 2000 (G2K); and Olivia “Babsy” Grange, representing the women of the party.
Grange, the party’s information spokesperson, told the Jamaica Observer yesterday that while the conference may not be as big as previous conferences, due to financial constraints, it will not be limited in representation, as “Labourites” from all 63 constituencies are expected to attend.
“The party’s spirit will not be diminished, and after the results of the recent public opinion polls and the negative exposures affecting the government, we expect the crowd to be in very high spirits,” she told the Observer.
She said that Holness’ presentation will be based on the theme, “From Austerity to Prosperity”, and will be complemented by the party’s motto of ‘Justice, Love and Prosperity”.
A number of diplomats are also expected to attend the conference. The private session starts at 10:00 am and the Opposition leader is expected to speak at about 1:30 pm.