An empty National Arena yesterday after plans for the JLP Annual Conference were aborted.
Leonardo Blair, Staff Reporter
ON SATURDAY morning the National Arena was deathly silent. No Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Annual Conference.
"Today would have been a good day," says a woman hanging around in the parking lot of the National Stadium.
For months the air had been pregnant with expectations of signature party music, tantalising 'feel good' foods, and visions of the birthing of the fifth leader in the JLP's history. Plans were made for a celebration with a difference. A fresh leader was sure this time around.
In early June this year, incumbent Party Leader Edward Seaga had announced his intention to resign from the post after clinging tightly at the helm for 30 years. Since then, the jockeying to the top took off between party loyalist Pearnel Charles and the 'leftist' backed Bruce Golding. Today should have been the day the nation welcomed the new leader, but there were complications.
PROBLEMS WITH VOTER'S LIST
Pearnel Charles filed for an injunction to prevent the delivery. He had problems with the voter's list. Many names had been left off the list, he charged, and it hit like a tornado. All the lavish plans expected to unfold in the usual clamouring of 'Showa' and 'Blinging' of bells went back to the cellar and some people may have lost big time.
"Constituents were mobilised, this is something that takes months," says Ken Baugh, chairman of the JLP's Election Oversight Committee. "We had made arrangements for security and transportation. People bought up food and many flew in from abroad," he added.
Many wanted to push on with the elections but the injunction was solid and strategically filed.
