FOR more than 62 years, the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) has not held a political meeting in the People’s National Party (PNP) dominated Franklyn Town community, until yesterday when a sea of bell-ringing Labourites descended on the Franklyn Town Primary School for the monthly Area Council One meeting.

Party officials and supporters alike saw this as a clear signal that the Central Kingston constituency, which had been controlled by the PNP since 1949, was now under threat of being taken by the JLP.

And according to the party, the best woman for the job of defeating the sitting Member of Parliament (MP) Ronnie Thwaites, is Councillor for the Rae Town Division Rosalie Hamilton who will be the party’s parliamentary candidate in the next general elections which is constitutionally due next year.

Yesterday, the meeting took on a campaign-type atmosphere as bus loads of supporters throughout the Area One region turned out to endorse Hamilton.

Hamilton later told the Observer that she was confident of creating history by winning the seat for the JLP.

“The seat is a tough one but as a person who was born and grew up and still lives in Central Kingston I am confident that I can take this seat,” she said.

Pointing to lack of infrastructural development and jobs in the constituency, she lamented that Thwaites had failed in his responsibility to the people.

But as if to contradict Hamilton and her supporters, pockets of orange-clad PNP faithful stood across from the venue to send the message that Franklyn Town remained “PNP country”.

One man, who was adorned in a PNP T-shirt, admitted to the Observer that they were out to show their “undying” allegiance to the PNP.

“We are showing that round here is orange colours and we not switching,” he said.

He was, however, at great pains to point out that they were not there to intimidate or make trouble for the Labourites.

“We are all one regardless of what party we vote for,” he insisted.

But according to one very vocal JLP supporter yesterday’s meeting was a clear signal that some residents of Franklyn Town had had enough of the lack of representation from the MP.

“It’s the first in the history the JLP has ever had a meeting in this constituency and it is because of how Rosie (Hamilton) has treated the people,” she insisted.

“We have had motorcades going through the community but is the first in the history that people come out to a meeting here in Franklyn Town, she said gleefully, while pointing to the large turnout.

Deputy leader of Area Council One Mayor Desmond McKenzie is also convinced the JLP is taking over Franklyn Town and Central Kingston.

“This woman (Hamilton) is going to break the back of PNP dominance in Central Kingston,” he said to wild cheers.

McKenzie said the JLP had settled all candidates for central and local government positions in the Corporate Area and was now ready for general elections.

Senator Hyacinth Bennett, who addressed the gathering, also endorsed Hamilton and encouraged her to strategise to take the seat from Thwaites.