THE JAMAICA Labour Party (JLP) has rescheduled its major pre-election rally to Sunday night in Half-Way Tree, Kingston.

The rally, at which the party will present all 60 candidates for the October 16 general election, was postponed from Monday night because of rain.

The JLP said the postponement was made in consideration of the "safety and convenience of the thousands of supporters expected to travel into the city from rural Jamaica".

A JLP source said yesterday that the party had delayed making an announcement on the new date, because of warnings from the Meteorological Office of more rain this weekend. The Gleaner understands that the party was also reluctant to hold a rally on the night before Nomination Day.

However, JLP leader Edward Seaga has insisted he will respond to the arguments raised by Prime Minister P.J. Patterson during Sunday's announcement of the date for the general election at the rally.

The General Secretary for the party, Dr. Ken Baugh, said last night that although the JLP would have preferred not to have a rally the night before nomination day, it had no choice because of the way the announcement of the election date was timed.

He also said there was a threat of a hurricane hitting Jamaica this weekend and, in the circumstances, the party had to keep an eye on the weather, as well and it could be postponed again.

In a release on Monday, the JLP said it "welcomes" the announcement of the date of election "because everybody who wants to see the back of the Government is anxious to cast their votes".

The rally is expected to start at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday. Candidates and the leadership of the party are expected to meet at Belmont Road today to finalise plans for the rally.