JAMAICA LABOUR Party (JLP) Leader Edward Seaga confirmed last night that new returnee to the fold, Bruce Golding, would play a significant role in energising the party for the general election, but denied that Mr. Golding's return at this stage was prompted by recent poll results.

Mr. Seaga said that any speculation that the party had a change of heart because of the recent polls, would have been triggered by ignorance of the fact that he had been speaking with both Mr. Golding and former National Democratic Movement (NDM) general secretary, Chris Tufton, since the beginning of the year.

"It's not today that we have been having these discussions. We have been talking to Tufton since February, on and off, because he had been away and he has been here. I've been talking to Bruce through intermediaries for sometime, on and off again. But, more recently, as the situation became more apparent in terms of the policies of the present Government and the direction in which the country is headed, he has exhibited more interest in having the discussions more frequently and we have responded, and the discussions have been taking place at my level and his level, and that is the big difference: that we have been able to make what we say effective," he explained.

He said that he had been in discussions with Mr. Tufton since February.

Mr. Seaga said that it was "fortuitous" that they had come to an agreement for their return to the party, "at the same time that it would serve a good political purpose."

He said, however, that while the proposal to make Mr. Golding an independent Senator was no longer irrelevant, in terms of these developments, he would not comment on what role Mr. Golding would play in a new JLP administration after the general election.

"That's not for discussion now. We would have to win an election first. We don't talk Cabinet at this stage," he said.

He said that the agreement with Mr. Golding was definite, was not transitory and that, in fact, Mr. Golding would return to the JLP campaign trail at a mass rally in May Pen on Saturday night. He will also speak at the party's mass rally in Half-Way-Tree which has now been rescheduled to Monday evening.

The Opposition Leader said that the party welcomed Mr. Golding's return and expect that he will add some extra points: "I've always said that Bruce has a fine mind and that it ought not to be wasted and he ought to be in the political world. I've always said that. I said it even the other day, when I said that at that particular point in time it would not be an asset for him to rejoin the party. But, there are different times with different positions."

Mr. Seaga also denied rumours that the accommodation of Mr. Golding was linked to funding from the business sector. He said that the party had already budgeted its campaign financing, including its advertising but, he added, any additional funding would be welcomed.

"I must tell you, we have enough funds to go through the election, but we can always do with more funds, because the PNP has a war chest that is enormous," he said.

He said that he was not aware, however, of any group saying that they would increase donations to the party if Mr. Golding was recalled.

Turning to the recent public opinion polls which suggest that the JLP has been falling behind the People's National Party (PNP) in political support, Mr. Seaga said that he was not worried about that.

He said that the JLP had fallen behind before and had been able to retrieve the situation, between February and March this year, and expected to do so again within the next three weeks.

He said that the party was commencing a new campaign blitz this weekend, starting with the rally in May Pen, backed up by an increased advertising blitz. There is likely to be two teams on the road, one headed by Mr. Seaga and the other by Mr. Golding.

In addition, he said that the 60 JLP candidates attending yesterday's candidates' meeting at Belmont Road had indicated that they were not worried about the poll showings as all signs indicated victory for the party.

"The 60 candidates who were in today are not fazed by what the polls are showing, because we have been down that road before. In February, there was slippage and we pumped up the campaign and by March, we were back on top with a significant lead. And, now that we have had some slippage, we go back to our normal formula, to have a substantial campaign, a blitz around the island which I am leading starting after Nomination Day and a blitz in advertising which we are now preparing to do."