THE Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) will be spending some $76-million to stage its annual conference this Sunday at the National Arena in St Andrew with no weapons or nose makers (locally referred to as vuvuzelas) allowed inside the venue.

Conference chairman, JLP Deputy Leader Desmond McKenzie on Thursday told a media briefing that the party intends to put on a serious annual conference without the gimmickry which he said marked other recent political conferences.

“We are not going to the National Arena on Sunday… with any comedy, we are coming with a strong clear message that will speak to the direction of the country. We are not into the gimmicks thing, this is a party that is serious about our messaging and we will stick on message,” said McKenzie.

“Our conference will reinforce the fact that by virtue of the actions we have taken, and will take to improve the lives of the mass of Jamaicans, the Jamaica Labour Party is, without doubt, the stronger political party.

“We have better policies, a stronger team and we have perhaps the greatest political leader of modern time, Dr Andrew Holness,” added McKenzie as he outlined the plans for the public session of the conference which will have as its theme, ‘Active and Strong’.

According to McKenzie, Jamaica should expect something different at this conference as the party moves to reiterate that it is serious about making the lives of the Jamaican people better.

“This year’s conference will definitely be the last one before a general election and we want to put on one which will allow the country to continue to see us as the best option for this country,” said McKenzie.

He pointed out that provisions will be made for licensed firearm holders to leave their weapons at the offices of the Firearm Licensing Authority, if they so desire, as no weapon of any kind will be allowed in the Arena.

Turning to the noise making imitation vuvuzelas, which have become a staple at political, sporting and entertainment events in Jamaica in recent years, McKenzie declared that the symbol of the JLP is the bell and these are what should be ringing in the arena.

“The other people, I don’t know what their symbol is, but the bell is the symbol of the Jamaica Labour Party… and we are urging supporters… that the bell has to remain our symbol and nothing else can replace [it],” declared McKenzie.

He pointed out that the popular noise makers have already been banned at several international sporting events as the decibel levels have been found to be damaging to people’s hearing.

McKenzie also urged JLP supporters not to breach the rules of the road going to and coming from conference and implored them not to engage in the popular practice of riding on the top of buses or with their bodies hanging out the windows of moving vehicles.

He further urged JLP supporters travelling to the National Arena to obey the instructions of the police as he pointed out that there will be traffic changes in the vicinity of the stadium complex on Sunday even before the conference begins at 10:00 am.

In the meantime, JLP communications officer Dr Dana Morris Dixon told the media briefing that it is clear that anticipation is building for the conference.

She noted that as usual the main address will come from Holness, “who will give a comprehensive update to the nation on how his Administration will intensify the pace at which we are delivering on the mission to Jamaica achieving economic independence and deliver prosperity for all”.

Dixon added that the conference will also feature addresses from a number of speakers who will update the country how progress has been made by the JLP Government in various sectors including health, transport, technology, foreign affairs, agriculture, water, along with labour and social security.

She said Jamaicans will hear more of how the Holness Administration is actively putting policies in place to further address their concerns.