THE leadership of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) is expecting a massive turnout of supporters at tomorrow’s 74th annual general conference at the National Arena in Kingston, despite the forecast for more rains this weekend.

JLP Chairman Robert Montague said yesterday that Labourites are in a celebratory mood, coming off the heels of successful general and local government elections, and most recently the by-election in St Mary South Eastern which gave the governing party one more seat in the House of Representatives.

Speaking to journalists at a press conference at party headquarters on Belmont Road in Kingston yesterday, Montague said the delegates’ conference was held two weekends ago, and he explained that having held off on conferences for two consecutive years, the strategy is to spread the conference over more days to allow for more detailed discussions about party matters and Government’s activities.

Noting some of the decisions being taken within the party, he disclosed that there are plans, for example, to reinstate the Grenbell Trust to allow grass roots members to make financial contributions to the party.

“It is the view of the party because, whether you’re in or out of power, the party ought to function in such a manner that the basics of the party ought to be supported by the members of the party. So we are going back to our roots; we want to be funded by the members of the party to give them more ownership of the Jamaica Labour Party,” Montague said.

Meanwhile, General Secretary Dr Horace Chang said among international guests invited to address the conference are Prime Minister of St Lucia Allen Chastanet and Dr Goodwin Friday, leader of the St Vincent’s main Opposition, New Democratic Party.

“We expect a very strong turnout of our supporters, despite the pressures of the budget, and we look forward to a very outstanding conference. Every active supporter of the party would like to be at the arena on Sunday, irrespective of rain,” he stated.

Under the theme ‘Partnership for a Prosperous Jamaica’, the conference will focus on how the party plans to prepare the country to achieve its Vision 2030 goals, Senator Matthew Samuda, one of the conference organisers, said.

It is expected that party leader and Prime Minister Andrew Holness will be addressing the just-passed controversial National Identification and Registration Bill, as he outlines his Administration’s programme to deal with issues affecting the country.

Samuda explained that the conference theme will be dealt with by the various speakers, which include a mix of newer and seasoned members of the party, with noted “rising stars” such as Floyd Green and Juliet Cuthbert-Flynn expected to make contributions. He said five video presentations will feature three JLP stalwarts and two new Members of Parliament.

He remarked that this is a “good time for a report card” for the party to provide the country with an update on the gaps and how the party intends to go forward.

The party chairman, meanwhile, insisted that the report card so far is a solid one. “We have performed exceptionally well over the last two years. We have won a general election (and) a parish council election, we won a by-election, which was dubbed a national referendum by the Opposition, and we won. We have been able to treat with a number of challenges as a party, we have a very strong and vigorous enumeration programme, as well as a good training programme, and we are expanding and strengthening our affiliates. The JLP is very strong, very vibrant,” he stated.

The JLP has not held an annual conference for two years due to intervening parish council and general elections in 2015 and 2016, respectively.