THE Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) says it will be returning to its usual conference format this November at the National Arena, after last year’s heavily reduced one-day delegates meeting at the Jamaica Conference Centre.
Last year’s 69th annual conference still attracted noisy, green-clad, bell- ringing Labourites, but saw a much smaller crowd that comprised mainly delegates, as the activities were reduced and merged into a one-day meeting of delegates, which nevertheless raised issues about the election of the four deputy leaders.But, having shaken off the residue of its devastating loss to the People’s National Party (PNP) in December 2011, Opposition Leader Andrew Holness says that the party will return to its usual conference format this year with a bang, and expects to stage a “really, really big conference”.Holness was speaking at this week’s Jamaica Observer Monday Exchange at the newspaper’s Beechwood Avenue headquarters, along with a team of executives including general secretary, Dr Horace Chang, chairman Robert Montague and publicity committee chairperson Olivia ‘Babsy’ Grange.Grange informed reporters that the celebrations, which began with a church service on Sunday in Lionel Town, Clarendon, a former political base for its founder, Sir William Alexander Bustamante, will be highlighted by a number of events including its “70 for 70″ awards functions, honouring 70 persons who have served the party over its 70 years. The awards will be made at the constituency level, culminating in a special awards ceremony at the annual conference on November 10, at the National Arena.The party’s area councils will also be staging some events, while some will be done jointly with the Bustamante Industrial Trade Union (BITU), and the party’s young professionals affiliate, Generation 2000 (G2K), is planning a major conference this year as well.Sunday’s national church service in Lionel Town was followed by an inaugural Founder’s Day Lecture Monday night at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, at which former Prime Minister Edward Seaga was the keynote speaker.Other major events include a media appreciation party at the JLP’s Belmont Road headquarters to mark the birthday of party leader Holness; the 36th anniversary of the passing of Sir Alexander on August 6; the JLP’s 70th anniversary Lecture Series on August 26, which will feature former Prime Minister Bruce Golding, who will speak on the life and work of Sir Donald Sangster, another former prime minister under the JLP. Sir Donald’s birthday will be celebrated on October 26.Former ambassador to the United States and high commissioner to London, Anthony Johnson, will launch his book on the history of the party during the celebrations.HOUSE RULES
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JLP to celebrate 70 over next 12 months
