Grange (left), Seaga and Bennett

A SEA of bodies covered the Half-Way-Tree area in the vicinity of the Mandela Park and spilled over into nearby roadways yesterday, as the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) staged a women's march to protest government's hike in the price of gasolene.

Women from all classes came out in their numbers to be a part of the peaceful march which had an air of festivity.

Many women, children and men gathered at Cinema II in New Kingston from as early as 2:00 p.m. shouting party slogans and calling for the resignation of Prime Minister P.J. Patterson.

Among some of the messages written on the placards they bore were "poor people fed up" and "Y2K - no P.J.". At about 3:15 p.m. the marchers started their journey which took them up Dominica Drive; along Knutsford Boulevard; up Waterloo Road; along South Avenue; and back down on Constant Spring Road to Mandela Park.

Under the watchful eyes of the police, who were out in full force, the crowd continued to swell along the route as persons, primarily party supporters, joined the march. Throughout the entire journey to Mandela Park the crowd constantly chanted "PJ must go...PJ must go...PJ must go."

The full leadership of the party, including party leader Edward Seaga was on hand for the march. However, it was Deputy Leader Olivia 'Babsy' Grange and Deputy General Secretary Prudence Kidd-Deans who orchestrated the day's activities.

There was also one person from an opposing political party who came out to give support to the march. Spokesperson on Education and Gender for the National Democratic Movement (NDM), Hyacinth Bennett came out in solidarity with the marchers.

"I came ...to stand in solidarity with the women. I could not stay at home today," she told The Gleaner.

Addressing the jubilant and receptive crowd, Mr. Seaga said that the message that he would be taking back to the government was that there would not be an end to the demonstrations until the government come up with some kind of solutions to the people's problems. "The people need a sign that the government has heard them and is willing to act," he said. He said the march was about seeking justice for people "who are watching their lives and the lives of their children being washed away".