Thousands of People's National Party supporters throng Half-Way Tree Square during the party's mass meeting yesterday. - Norman Grindley/Deputy Chief Photographer

Just minutes after the Prime Minister 'sounded the trumpet' last night, Opposition Leader Bruce Golding reiterated his call for a fixed election date.

Speaking from the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) headquarters at Belmont Road in St. Andrew, Golding also criticised the Prime Minister over what he said was the "long, protracted" period between last night's announcement and nomination day.

Golding charged that there was no precedent for such an extended period of campaigning in at least 50 years of Jamaican history, arguing that the People's National Party's effortsto shore up support could aggravate political tensions.

The election could have been held ahead of Emancipation Day on August 1, Golding added.

The Opposition Leader said a JLP government would, within the first 100 days of office, take to Parliament a bill to amend the Constitution to allow for a fixed election date.

"For the date of the election to be used as a strategic tool dangled around and manipulated, not to satisfy the country's interest but the interest of the People's National Party, is fundamentally wrong," he said.

Golding boasted, nevertheless, that the JLP was prepared for the extended campaign period.