WESTERN BUREAU — Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) leader, Edward Seaga, will today deliver the main address at an appreciation ceremony for the more than 300 party stalwarts of Area Council Four that comprises St Elizabeth, Hanover, Trelawny and Westmoreland.

The ceremony, which forms part of the Opposition’s 60th anniversary celebrations, is to take place at the Chatwick Centre inside Montego Bay.

“At this function we will be honouring former ministers of government, former members of parliament, former councillors, former senators, councillors and mayors who have served the region during the period,” Ed Bartlett, the party’s deputy leader for Area Council Four, told the Observer. “(And) a central part of the programme will be to pay special recognition to those who were with us during the period when we had to build the party in the middle of the 1990’s.”

Among those to receive certificates of appreciation are:

* former minister of health, Dr Herbert Eldemire;

* former parliamentary secretary in the ministry of agriculture, Astil Sangster;

* former minister of national security, Winston Spaulding;

* former member of parliament, Dr Marco Brown; and

* long-time JLP supporter, Russell Hammond.

Speakers at the function will include MP Ruddy Spencer, first vice-president of the Bustamante Industrial Trade Union (BITU), and Dr Herbert Eldemire.

“The event will be preceded by a meeting of the party’s Mayors’ Council, the party leader, and his deputies to discuss issues relating to matters of the council,” Bartlett said.

Then on Sunday, the JLP leader will address a general meeting of the party’s Area Council Four, when nominations for deputy leader and party leader will be accepted. It is at that meeting that the opposition spokesman on water and housing, Dr Horace Chang, is expected to be nominated for the post of deputy leader.