Delroy Chuck

The impressive demonstra-tion of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) at its 63rd annual conference is the surest signal that it is ready to win another term of governance.

An energised, united and determined party cannot be denied, and whenever the next general election is called, it seems inevitable there will be a new JLP government. Over the past six months, the JLP leadership galvanised its delegates and supporters, and the euphoria, exuberance and enthusiasm displayed at its weekend conference is a sure indication of a strong, purposeful party on the road to victory.

The JLP's 63rd annual conference should convince any doubting Thomases that the new leadership has taken the party to a higher level of order, organisation and unity. The flow of vehicular traffic to the National Arena was unprecedented. From the east, the west and the north of the island, over 600 buses and 2,000 cars moved relentlessly towards the Stadium grounds, carrying flag-waving and bell-ringing Labourites to their annual meeting. Daryl Vaz had 131 packed buses, Shahine Robinson had 70 buses and over 120 cars rolling into Kingston, and from my vantage point on the platform, none of their supporters got past the entrance to the Arena.

The 63rd annual conference was not only the mother and granny of all conferences, it was simply the biggest and best ever held. I spoke to many reporters who parked as far as Old Hope Road, walked past thousands of supporters from Bob Marley statue and squeezed through the massive crowd to get on to the Stadium complex. They were just amazed, and confirmed that the crowd was at least twice that of the recently held PNP annual conference. But, the conference was more than numbers.

Path of a new JLP

On Saturday, the delegates' session was creatively conducted, impressively presented and attracted challenging questions and demands on the party's leadership. On Sunday, the party was on display and the impeccable behaviour of the huge crowd was especially pleasing and certainly noticeable to all Jamaica. The leader, Bruce Golding, did not disappoint. He presented a wonderful vision of the path of a new JLP government and the policies for a better Jamaica.

Yet, the country wants to know how this vision will be realised and how it will be financed, to which challenge the JLP leadership must respond over the coming weeks and months. In truth, the country is crying for hope and the 63rd annual conference provided at least a glimmer of hope that real change for a better tomorrow is on its way. It is now for the JLP leadership to reach beyond its supporters and to the wider Jamaica that it can be trusted to eliminate the corruption, injustice and partisan governance. It needs to convince Jamaicans that it will not be business as usual and the continuing slide into deeper debt, strangling poverty and greater misery will be reversed and that new leadership can take them to a brighter future.

Call elections soon

Across the country, the people want a change from the present disastrous path, and they now appreciate that the new adminis-tration of Portia Simpson Miller was just more of the same and no different from the P.J. Patterson-led administration of which she was a part. The rise of the JLP makes a fifth term simply unlikely. The longer she waits to call the general election, the worse it will be for her party - and, thus, for her party's sake, she should call it soon.

To be sure, the JLP's leadership cannot take anything for granted. Now is the time for the JLP to take onboard all Jamaicans, the undecided and disenchanted, the doubtful and withdrawn, and convince them that Jamaica can be a better place. The rise of the JLP will be short if its policies and vision appeal only to Labourites - the majority of Jamaicans must be persuaded.

Delroy Chuck is an attorney-at-law and Member of Parlia-ment. He can be contacted by email at delchuck@hotmail.com.