By Matthew Falloon, Staff Reporter 
Sharon Hay-Webster, MP, South Central, St. Catherine is assisted onto the platform by Enos Lawrence, PNP councillor at a joint rally of South East and South Central St. Catherine constituences at Southboro Primary School yesterday and (right)Leader of the Opposition, Edward Seaga is surrounded by supporters at a brief stop in Hamilton Plaza, Red Hills Square during a tour of the West Rural St. Andrew constituency yesterday. - Michael Sloley /Freelance Photographer
THE ISLAND'S two major political parties, the governing People's National Party (PNP) and the main Opposition Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) were out on the hustings over the weekend with thousands of supporters in tow at rallies as electioneering gathers momentum.
The PNP held constituency conferences in North East Manchester, as well as South East and South Central St. Catherine yesterday, while JLP leader Edward Seaga continued on his campaign trail with a motorcade through West Rural St. Andrew and a public meeting at Stony Hill last night.
Flags aloft and horns blasting, the green convoy rode around the hills of the swing seat in St. Andrew encouraging residents out of their houses and onto the streets to watch the colourful parade. Green flags, green shirts, green bandannas and even a green wig were donned by members of the throng hanging onto minibuses, pick-ups and cars around the winding roads of the picturesque suburbs. The convoy eventually paused at Hamilton Plaza, Red Hills Square where the supporters disembarked and waited for Mr. Seaga and first time candidate Andrew Gallimore.
Arriving to cheers and loud music, Mr. Seaga, Mr. Gallimore and deputy leader Derrick Smith climbed onto the back of a pick-up to address the throng.
"Tonight I expect to see Stony Hill crammed," Mr. Seaga told his supporters. "Because the tide has turned, people want a change."
Mr. Seaga explained that the tour was to concentrate on "PNP areas" to attract new votes in a constituency whose current MP, PNP member Vernon Robinson, has decided not to stand for re-election. Dr. Carol Archer, his replacement, will be Mr. Gallimore's main rival in one of the contests that the JLP will have to win if they are to oust the incumbent PNP.
The JLP had toured North Trelawny and North West St. Ann over the weekend. Mr. Seaga declared last week that the date of the election was certain to be September 26.
Earlier in the afternoon, PNP supporters crammed the Southboro Primary School, St. Catherine where members of Parliament for South East St. Catherine and South Central St. Catherine, Dr. Paul Robertson and Sharon Hay-Webster, were hosting a joint constituency conference.
With PNP vice-presidents Dr. Peter Phillips and Roger Clarke due to address them, the crowd in the packed courtyard, were in jubilant mood.
"Them can't stop we this time!" Dr. Robertson said to his supporters, adding that the numbers out in force yesterday were a "statement to the entire country that the St. Catherine plains were safe for the People's National Party."
The orange-clad crowd roared its approval and although there were no orange wigs, the orange coloured shoes gave a new meaning to the phrase "people vote with their feet".
However, it was not all feel good politics with both events having their fair share of character attacks. PNP St. Catherine Councillor Norman Scott labelled Mr. Seaga "the Caribbean's con man", while both Mr. Seaga and Mr. Gallimore accused West Rural St. Andrew MP Vernon Robinson of neglecting his constituency.
"The sitting Member of Parliament has been missing in action for several years now," Mr. Gallimore said.
