Arthur Hall, Senior Staff Reporter

Senior leaders of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) will go into today's 45th annual conference at the National Arena with a message for party members and supporters: "Hold strain."

"Normally, when you get into office, you have a little wiggle room that you can say to people who worked hard with you, 'We are here now and here are some opportunities right away'. We never had that opportunity," JLP General Secretary Karl Samuda declared in what appeared to be an apology to supporters Thursday night at the West Kingston annual constituency conference.

Dominant theme

That theme is expected to dominate today's conference as the JLP tries to energise its grass-roots supporters, while providing an explanation to the rest of Jamaica.

Samuda has blamed the JLP's failure to reward its supporters on the People's National Party, which was in government for 18 years.

"While we were campaigning, we thought things were bad. In fact, we knew that they were bad but Labourites, let me tell you, we had no idea how bad it was," Samuda told the gathering in Tivoli Gardens.

Main address

That's a message which JLP leader, Prime Minister Bruce Golding, will, no doubt, take to conference today.

Golding delivered the main address at the West Kingston constituency conference where he indicated that he would speak to national and international developments and the prospects for Jamaica at today's conference.

"On Sunday, I'm going to talk about the challenges of this year and I'm going to talk about our responses to those challenges," Golding told supporters as he urged them to hold strain.

"Because you (West Kingston) contribute so much, it is reasonable that you should expect much in return ... and I know that some of you are inclined to become impatient, to become bewildered because things sometimes take longer than you expected," Golding told his constituents.

Like they did in Tivoli, Golding and other senior members of the party will enter the arena today prepared for questions from rank-and-file members of the party about the Government's performance since the September 2007 election victory and its failure to deliver on many promises.

Dissatisfied with party

In recent weeks, several JLP supporters have expressed dissatisfaction with the party's failure to control crime, provide jobs and deliver the spoils of victory, which they expected after 18 years in opposition.

There has also been the "Nutten nah gwan!" cry from Labourites who are bemoaning the failure of the administration to dramatically improve their lives.

In Tivoli Gardens on Thursday, Golding made it clear that he was aware of the concerns of his supporters and promised that better would come.

He was supported by senior JLP member, Pearnel Charles, who seemed peeved that some Labourites were questioning the achievements of the administration, which has kept its promise to free up health care and remove hospital fees.

"Some of you Labourites don't appreciate the work that you have done. Some of you want manna to fall from Heaven in 12 months. Some of you want baby to born and walk same time," Charles said as he chided the supporters.

JLP not to be blamed

According to Charles, the JLP was not to be blamed for its failure to deliver all that its supporters expected.

"No other government in the history of Jamaica has had to face the turbulence of hurricane last year and hurricane this year and all of the other problems," Charles declared.

As he did on Thursday, Golding will offer a word of hope to his supporters and to the rest of Jamaica.

"There may be weeping in the night, but joy will come in the morning," is the message Golding took to Tivoli, which he hopes will be enough to satisfy Jamaicans who have already started to doubt his administration.

- arthur.hall@gleanerjm.com