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PNP,
JLP wrap up campaigns in Kgn
THE
TWO major political parties wrapped up their campaigns in
Kingston yesterday with motorcades through the Corporate Area,
where a closely fought battle is expected for control of the
Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation.
Both
parties drew out hundreds of supporters clad in their respective
colours, orange for the People's National Party (PNP) and
green for the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) as the respective
caravans meandered through the city urging supporters to turn
out to vote tomorrow.
With
just a matter of hours to go before Jamaicans cast their ballots
in tomorrow's Local Government elections, President of the
People's National Party (PNP) P.J Patterson, says the winner
will depend on who gets the most voters out.
Mr.
Patterson said the PNP has no plans to relinquish its control
of Local Government. The PNP President, who made a brief stop
to address a moderate sized crowd in McGregor Gully, East
Kingston noted that the enthusiasm was somewhat low-keyed
as is normal. "However, we are seeing a livening-up of
the interest in the field, so to speak," he said. "I
think the test will be who gets the voters out on election
day," he added.
He
said that the emphasis was on winning the votes of the people
in marginal constituencies. "We have to target particular
divisions even in the constituencies where we were not successful
(in the general election)."
The
tour, which started in Papine, travelled to various divisions
throughout the Kingston and St. Andrew municipality, before
stopping in Bull Bay, East Rural St. Andrew. The tour culminated
with a rally in Rae Town square, Central Kingston.
In
a final bid to persuade voters, Mr. Patterson told the people:
"On Thursday get up early, go to the polls and, after
you have voted come and find the other comrades who have not
yet done so and persuade them to come out and vote, so that
we can win in significant numbers."
Meanwhile,
the 10-mile community in Bull Bay, St. Andrew, was temporarily
transformed into a sea of flag waving JLP supporters, yesterday.
Despite
the late start, the campaign train revved-up immediately after
the arrival of Opposition Leader, Edward Seaga, and his wife,
Carla.
Revelling
party supporters, some with their bodies protruding from the
windows of buses, vans and motorcars, gyrated, sang party
songs and rang their bells, as the designated routes took
them through a number of JLP strongholds, stretching from
Bull Bay, "Southside" in Central Kingston and Grants
Pen in St. Andrew.
The
campaign train came to a halt at the intersection of Darling
Street and Spanish Town Road, where a mass meeting was held.
Up to the point when Mr. Seaga and his entourage left "Southside,"
the motorcade was incident free. The only distraction was
when the campaign passed through sections of the Bull Bay
main road and Rae Town, they were jeered by persons standing
along the roadside.
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