Member of Parliament for Portland Western Daryl Vaz described the massive crowd at the National Arena for the public session of the party’s 80th annual conference as “exceeding expectations.”

Vaz and his wife Ann-Marie, the Member of Parliament for Portland Eastern, arrived at the National Arena a short while ago after abandoning their vehicle, which was stuck in traffic.

Vaz told Observer Online that while he was expecting a bumper crowd, what greeted him early this morning was a surprise.

“I have been in politics for a long time and outside of an election, what I saw in Portland east and west and St Mary coming through the Junction this morning is unprecedented by far,” said Vaz.

“I would think that maybe is because of a local government election by February it has energised the base without the party getting into high campaign gear, but I think this will be the launch of the campaign for both the local and general elections,” added Vaz.

He said today’s conference shows that the JLP is united and ready for any election campaign. Up to 12.30, scores of buses, cars and other vehicles were seen taking Labourities to the National Arena hours after the public session started.

Police were seen struggling to control traffic, while all the entrances to the Arena were packed with people trying to get in.