A carnival-like atmosphere prevailed yesterday in the constituency of West Kingston where Opposition Leader Bruce Golding and his opponent from the People’s National Party (PNP), Joseph ‘Bunny’ Witter, were nominated at the Denham Town High School.

Golding arrived with a throng of green-clad, flag-waving supporters. His entry took on a party flavour as his entourage included a marching band and a truck with a sound system blaring popular gospel and secular hits.

Flanked by his wife Lorna, son Steve, Kingston Mayor Desmond McKenzie and followed by thousands of supporters, Golding appeared calm and smiled as he approached the heavily-guarded nomination centre.

McKenzie, in his customary role as town crier, then ordered the music cut and urged the large crowd to behave in an orderly manner before Golding and the 10 nominators required under law entered the nomination centre.

Before his nomination, Golding and his supporters formed a circle and were led in prayer by Pastor Patricka Nelson-Hall of the Faith Good Hope Deliverance Ministry.

Golding then paid his nomination fee with 30 $100 bills, which bear the image of Donald Sangster, a former Jamaica Labour Party prime minister.

Golding had a few words of advice for Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller.

“I think that the prime minister should savour the next couple of days,” he said.

Afterwards, he briefly addressed his supporters before embarking on a tour of the constituency.

Witter arrived minutes before 11:00 am with less than 100 orange-clad supporters who were met and hugged by Labourites who had gathered outside the school.

The first sign of Witter’s approach was a high-powered motorcycle driven by a man wearing a green shirt with Golding’s image. He was transporting a woman dressed in an orange T-shirt bearing Witter’s picture.

Even though the political rivalry was intense, there was no hint that the opposing sides were at loggerheads and they mingled freely with each other, exchanging party slogans, dancing and sharing strong drink.

“West Kingston is the nicest place to have nomination because we don’t deal with the bad feelings and war,” one female supporter of the JLP said. “We all are one, we just support different parties.”

A few minutes later, Witter and his supporters arrived.

Witter, who paid his nomination with three $1,000 bills bearing the image of former party president and prime minister, Michael Manley, expressed confidence that his party would retain power.

“I believe the People’s National Party will be returned to power as the voice of the people is the voice of God,” Witter told reporters.