Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) loyalists at the party’s 81st annual general conference on Sunday threw their full support behind Prime Minister Andrew Holness leading the country for a third consecutive term.

“Andrew is the best leader for the country,” Debbie, a resident of West Kingston, told Observer Online.

She was among a sea of Labourites just outside the National Arena where the public session of the conference was taking place.

“He is working. Who say him not doing anything, don’t have any ambition. He just needs his Members of Parliament (MP) to work with him. A nuff things him a do. People say there are no roads, but it’s the first I see so many cars pon road. If there was no road, how did they find road to drive on,” Debbie said.

“The man is working. Many of the Labourite MPs must shake up their folly grounds and get used to the young people in their constituency. A lot of the young people have no knowledge. Anything they see is what they work with,” she continued. “The MPs need to walk and let the people see them and the councillors need to have a meeting every week. Andrew Holness is working and he needs Jamaica to support him.”

Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) supporters Cadia Simpson (left) and Julian Malcolm at the party’s 81st annual general conference on Sunday, November 24, 2024. (Photo: Karl McLarty)

There were many similar comments from other supporters on the outside of the National Arena, which was equally as crowded as inside the arena which the Jamaica Fire Brigade declared was packed to capacity well before 1:00pm.

Angela from Rose Town in St Andrew said she came out to support the JLP because it was her opinion that the People’s National Party (PNP) was “no good”.

“My opinion is that PNP mash the country and wreck it. Labour Party built it back up and what they want to do is mash it up again,” she said.

One St James resident, who gave his name as ‘Lover’, said he had no doubt that the JLP was the best party in Jamaica.

“This is the first I see one Prime Minister do so much work one time. This is first time we have so much money put down and we don’t have to borrow money to do what we are doing right now in the country. This is the best government so we have to support the best party,” he said.

“I am looking forward to hearing from Andrew, some more details about the road programme he announced already. He said it will start in December and the people want it to start in East Central St James. I am from Lottery District. We say straight shower,” Lover added.

Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) supporter Oretha Williams Blair at the party’s 81st annual general conference on Sunday, November 24, 2024. (Photo: Karl McLarty)

‘Cheapy’ told the Observer that he travelled the distance from Central Jamaica to be among fellow party supporters.

“I am coming all the way from Spaulding in North Western Clarendon. I had to make the trip here today. This is my party so I had to make the trip. This is the best party that run Jamaica. Andrew Holness is the best. I am looking forward to hearing many of his plans including the one he has for the roads. I know the roads are bad but he can’t fix all the roads one time. He is doing some good things and we have to take our time with him. I want him to win the election again so we as a country can be in a better position,” he said.

One female supporter who gave her name as Simone said she came out to show support for Alando Terrlonge, the JLP MP for St Catherine Easy Central.

“I am supporting Alando Terrelonge, the man who says education for my daughter, son, cousin and everybody. I am looking forward to hearing good things from the prime minister today about income tax and salary raise. You see di little street boys, I want to hear him say what he will do for them and the mentally insane persons who I see on the sidewalks. I see that they get their meals but I want to see them get better facilitation,” Simone said.