THE Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) revved up its Corporate Area election machinery Sunday, predicting general elections in July, and projecting 40 seats nationally, including at least 10 in the Corporate Area.

JLP spokesman on tourism, Ed Bartlett, who was guest speaker at the monthly meeting of the party’s Area Council One(Corporate Area), said that indications are that the elections are scheduled for July.

“Anytime it comes, we ready for it,” he said. “The people of Jamaica can’t wait any longer.”

The party’s spokesman on justice and MP for North-East St Andrew, Delroy Chuck, said he had no doubt that the JLP would win at least 40 seats in the elections and between 10 and 11 in the Corporate Area. The JLP now has eight of the seven seats in the Corporate Area.

“If we work hard we can take at least 10 seats in Kingston and St Andrew, and maybe 11. I can tell you that I will be very, very disappointed if we take less than 40 seats … I sincerely hope that Kingston and St Andrew contribute at least 10, maybe 11,” he said.

Bartlett, who currently represents East Central St James, formerly represented East St Andrew, which hosted the meeting at Papine High School. The seat is currently held by his brother, Dr St Aubyn Bartlett, who had been under severe internal pressures to give way to another aspirant, Wentworth Charles.

Dr Bartlett told the meeting that the issue had been a family one which has now been settled. He said that the constituency was again united to defeat PNP aspirant, Dr Trevor Munroe.

Ed Bartlett’s presence was obviously timed to cement the reunification, and during his 15-minute speech, he had the crowd on its feet , dancing and singing, as he led them on a cry that the current government should “tek weh yuself” and make way for a JLP government.

He said that he expected his brother to be returned to Parliament to finish the work he had started in the constituency.