Devon Evans, Gleaner Writer

Jamaica Labour Party leader Bruce Golding rings the symbolic bell to resounding cheers from enthusiastic supporters of the party at a rally in Brown's Town, St. Ann, on Saturday. Standing behind him is Desmond McKenzie. - Roger Robinson/Freelance Photographer

Political Ombudsman Bishop Herro Blair is to meet with the leaders of both political parties this afternoon.

Yesterday, Jamaica Labour Party leader Bruce Golding said he was optimistic about the talks with Bishop Blair and the People's National Party president, Portia Simpson Miller.

"I think it is important for Mrs. Simpson Miller and myself not just to meet, have discussions, and arrive at a common approach, but I believe it is important to send a signal to the people of Jamaica that on this issue of political violence there is no political division," he stated.

Noting that pre-election violence had been confined to a small number of constituencies, Golding said he hoped the leadership of both parties would spare no effort in defusing those tensions.

The JLP leader was speaking at a press conference in Ocho Rios, St. Ann, following a lengthy meeting of the party's central executive.

He called for all Labourites to remain calm.

Appeal for unity

The JLP leader says his commitment, and that of the Prime Minister, to a peaceful election must be clearly demonstrated to their supporters.

"After the election, there will be a country to run and that the country cannot be run successfully on the basis of a divided population," he said.

On Saturday, Golding told supporters at a meeting in Brown's Town that a July election would be timely and symbolic, as it would herald Emancipation Day celebrations on August 1.

"An election victory for the JLP at the end of the month would emancipate the country from a different kind of slavery," he said.

Repeating his pledge to remove cost sharing at the secondary school level, Golding said if the JLP assumes government before September, tuition-free education would be implemented at the start of the new school year.

Edmond Campbell contributed to this story