OVERBURDENED buses with thousands of Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) supporters yesterday rolled into Half-Way-Tree square for the party’s final mass rally ahead of Thursday’s general election.

The St Andrew capital mirrored the country’s annual carnival as flag-waving Labourites, some scantily dressed, gathered playing mas, as the pelting sun faded and the evening progressed.

Selfie sticks, the ever- present vuvuzelas, and marijuana were among the most sought-after commodities as vendors lined Nelson Mandela Park hoping to earn from the massive JLP throng.

“This is the 2016 Grammy Awards put on by the Labour Party in Half-Way-Tree square,” master of ceremonies and candidate for Kingston Western, Desmond McKenzie said.

But the “show” was briefly interrupted when unruly supporters breached the barriers which separated them from the media, fuelling chaos as alarmed journalists ran to safety.

The barriers were repositioned by members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force only to be broken down again as party faithful engaged the police in a war of words.

Members of the media, as a result, had to relocate as the Labourites mounted strong resistance to the lawmen.

This, however, did not stop platform activities as Labourite Pastor Patrika Hall told supporters that if they wanted to “ride with Andrew on the prosperity train”, they had to “hurry up and get ready to vote”.

Several candidates, and former Prime Minister and party leader Edward Seaga, who followed Hall, urged both diehard supporters and the uncommitted to register their votes for the JLP on Thursday.

Labourites went into a frenzy when it was announced that Seaga was in attendance at the meeting. It was the first time since 2005, when he retired from active politics, that the veteran politician was gracing a JLP platform.

“Eddie! Eddie! Eddie!” the massive crowd shouted as McKenzie, introduced him.

Seaga was greeted with thunderous ovation as soon as he became visible to jubilant supporters.

In the meantime, 73-year-old Clara Walker, who travelled from Gregory Park, St Catherine, told the Jamaica Observer that she came to the meeting to support the party, as the PNP had promised to fix her house but did not.

“Mi need help; they will help me,” a teary-eyed Walker, who was armed with a walking stick, said.

At the same time, Shakera Parchment from Grange Lane in Portmore, St Catherine, said she was there just for party leader Andrew Holness.

“Him going back to Parliament as prime minister,” she insisted.

Holness later told Labourites and TV viewers that he was committed to them and that everything he has done was for them.