Unity will be the underlying message at the National Arena during next Sunday’s annual conference of the often-fractious Jamaica Labour Party (JLP).

Party spokesmen declared, last week, that they expect no challenges and no confrontations. And with the legal issue surrounding the selection of delegates already behind them, they are looking forward to a celebration of unity under a new leader.

“The emphasis is definitely going to be on unity. We want to show a united front to the country,” said general secretary Karl Samuda. He was supported by the party’s information and culture spokesperson Olivia “Babsy” Grange, who will handle public relations and promotion for the event, which will cost between $4 million and $5 million to stage.

There is no chance of a late entry for any of the positions which are up for grabs on Sunday. Unlike the process within the People’s National Party (PNP), nominations for the leader and deputy leader of the JLP close approximately 30 days prior to the conference. During the conference, the party’s constitution only allows nominations from the floor if one of the candidates dies or withdraws from the race.

No confrontations are expected, as the party seems to have fully resolved the issue of leadership and has accepted that the current chairman, Bruce Golding, is the overwhelming choice.

A legal challenge from his brother-in-law Pearnel Charles had led to a court-ordered postponement of the conference planned for November 6-7 last year. Lately, the only hint of a challenge to Golding’s aspirations was from the direction of Mike Henry, the maverick member of parliament from Central Clarendon.

Henry had recently said he was preparing for another challenge to the leadership. But in the spirit of the unified front the party hopes to present next Sunday, he now says he will delay his challenge until the next conference.

The four deputy leaders are expected to be returned unopposed. They are:

. Derrick Smith in area council one, which includes the Corporate Area;

. James Robertson in area council two, which includes the eastern parishes;

. Audley Shaw in area council three, which covers the mid-island parishes; and

. Horace Chang is still on the slate for council four, which comprises the western parishes stretching from St Elizabeth, even though he has had his fair bit of legal trouble lately after being charged with assault for pulling his gun during a squabble with Labourites in St Elizabeth.

According to Samuda, the theme of the one-day conference will be the party’s motto: justice, liberty and progress.

The business session, which is scheduled to start at 9:00 am, will be highlighted by the reports from the general secretary and treasurer. These reports will form the basis for discussions during that period, as no resolutions are likely to be debated.

It is during this session that the party’s approximately 4,600 delegates will confirm the new leader and his deputy leaders.

The intervening period will involve some interesting presentations, including a 10-minute video presentation on the political career and contributions of the former leader, Edward Seaga.

This presentation was taken from a much lengthier documentary being produced by a party team headed by Grange. The full documentary is being planned to premier at a party function to be held in Seaga’s honour later this year.

There will also be a video presentation on the life and career of the party leader-designate, Bruce Golding, prior to his speech to the conference. Mayor of Kingston Councillor Desmond McKenzie will chair the public session in the afternoon.

The president of the Bustamante Industrial Trade Union (BITU), Ruddy Spencer, will be among the main speakers. He will be followed by the four deputy leaders, who are expected to present their annual reports prior to a speech from interim leader of the Opposition Dr Kenneth Baugh.

The party’s electoral process culminates on March 5, when the central executive meets to select a new chairman and general secretary.