MONTEGO BAY: The two major political parties will focus on the western end of the island this weekend, as the political silly season appears to get underway in earnest.

The ruling People’s National Party will stage a joint conference of its Eastern, Central and Western Westmoreland constituencies in that parish on Sunday.

The conference is slated to get underway at the Manning’s High School’s football field at 2:00 pm.

Prime Minister and MP for Eastern Westmoreland, P J Patterson, will head the list of party bigwigs scheduled to address the gathering. Also on the agenda are Water and Housing Minister Karl Blythe, who also represents Central Westmoreland; plus junior tourism minister and Western Westmoreland MP, Wykeham McNeil.

Meanwhile, the opposition Jamaica Labour Party was slated to kick off its assault with a 7:00 pm fundraising dinner at Falmouth’s Fisherman’s Inn Friday night. Today there will be 11:00 am start for a tour of Duansvale in North Trelawny; and a 7:00 pm meeting in Clarkes Town.

Tomorrow, it’s on to Eastern Hanover for a church service at Ward Methodist, and a tour of Hopewell gets underway at 2:00 pm.

“The day’s events will culminate in a public meeting at Hopewell Square, starting at 6:00 pm,” said deputy leader, Ed Bartlett.

Throughout the weekend, party leader Edward Seaga will present the candidates for North Trelawny and Eastern Hanover, Christopher Jobson and Barrington Grey, respectively.