Controversial dancehall star Adidja “Vybz Kartel” Palmer sparked a national firestorm after he appeared on stage during the public session of the People’s National Party’s (PNP) 86th annual conference at the National Arena on Sunday.

Sporting what has now become his traditional orange kerchief covering much of his face, Kartel greeted the massive crowd in the arena with the clenched fist which is used by Comrades in their salute.

Outside the arena Comrades told the Jamaica Observer that this was a positive signal for the party and would enhance its chances at the polls whenever the next general election is called.

“A winnings brethren! That means Mark Golding is going to be the next prime minister of Jamaica. From the first time I saw Kartel in the orange kerchief when he was being released from prison, I knew he would be here at conference,” said Everton Thomas from Arnett Gardens in St Andrew.

“PNP must win. The next step is for Kartel to be a Member of Parliament. Jamaicans would vote for him,” said Waterhouse resident Karime Cobham.

In the meantime, Jacqueline Quarrie said she knew that Palmer was going to attend the conference and that he will be a major influence in getting people to come out and vote for the PNP in the next general election.

“Now that Kartel is here, the PNP supporters will push out and vote. I feel so, 100 per cent,” Quarrie said.

But the overwhelmingly positive reaction at the arena was not shared on social media, with hundreds of comments showing a major split among Jamaicans.

“The PNP just a prove more and more that they stand for everything wrong,” said one user on Instagram.

“Kartel was me artist until me see this, go [expletives deleted] Comrade boy,” said another.

However, there were several others who indicated that the dancehall star would influence them to vote for the PNP.

“Anything the Teacha [Kartel] say it me deh pan. PNP the thing deh,” declared one user, while another said, “See me at the next election voting for the first time in my life,” with orange emojis.

Kartel was released from prison on July 31 after spending almost 13 years in custody, having been charged and convicted of the murder of Clive “Lizard” Williams.

In 2014 he was sentenced to life in prison with eligibility for parole after 35 years. On March 14 the London-based Privy Council overturned the convictions of Palmer and his three co-accused on the grounds of jury misconduct and sent the matter back to the Court of Appeal in Jamaica for it to decide whether the men would be retried or released.

Palmer and his co-accused were freed on July 31 after a panel of judges, led by president of the Court of Appeal, Marva McDonald Bishop, said there were at least 12 factors which caused them to decide that the men should not be retried. One of the co-accused was not released, as he was convicted on another charge.

Upon his release, Palmer was seen wearing orange face coverings, which sent tongues wagging that it could mean he supports the PNP, as orange is the signature colour of the party.

Those speculations were confirmed on Sunday when Palmer, accompanied by his attorney-at-law, Isat Buchanan, walked on stage at the PNP conference. Buchanan is a former chairman of the PNP’s Human Rights Commission.