IT was planned to be a massive meeting and Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) supporters did not disappoint as they turned out in their numbers on Sunday for the public session of the 80th annual conference of the JLP.

From shortly before 10:00 am until the final word from party leader Prime Minister Andrew Holness, just before 3:00 pm, the Independence Park complex was a sea of green.

Labourities from Negril point to Morant point turned out in their numbers with two aims, outperforming the People’s National Party which had a bumper crowd for its annual conference in September, and showing that they are ready for victories in the local government election due by next February, and a third-consecutive victory in the general election, due by 2025.

“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 [Sunday] is unprecedented by far,” said Member of Parliament for Portland Western Daryl Vaz, when he turned up at the National Arena shortly before midday.

“I would think that maybe it is because of a local government election [due] 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, who was one of many senior JLP members who had to abandon their vehicles in the traffic on the roads around Independence Park and walk into the packed arena.

Outside the arena, the usual vendors were on hand selling food, drinks, horns, and just in case you were not prepared, green paraphernalia from shirts to caps, wrist bands and more.

As usual the conference would not be complete without the tables for those who wanted to try their hands at games of chance with big money being bet in some instances.

But even as they greeted old friends, danced to the music and paraded in the skimpiest of attire, the Labourities were adamant that they were sending a message about the quest for a third term.

“The JLP deserve a third term because Mr Andrew Michael Holness and my MP Floyd Green have done so much for us. I am not questioning if we will win, I know we will win,” said Rodney “Jaguar” Mullings as he pointed to several roads repaired in his St Elizabeth South Western constituency under the JLP.

For St Catherine North Eastern resident Natasha, she said her MP Kerensia Morrison deserves a second term and the JLP deserves to remain in Government.

“We always a do good and we can’t stop do good, Andrew always a step up to the game and keep him promises and we are the best for Jamaica,” added Natasha.

It was a similar story from west Kingston resident Mary who argued that young Jamaicans should vote for the JLP because of the opportunities that the Administration had created for them.

“If you don’t decide who to vote for you should vote for the JLP because them a the better Government. You see a lot of improvement that they have done for the country. Them look out for poor people, you see lot of development, and them look out for young people,” shouted Portland Eastern resident Malina as she supported Mary.