| About me : | The Formative Years 1938 -1962
On the 10th April 1962, the Jamaica Labour Party won the general elections which were called to decide which Party should lead the island into Independence. in accepting the victory, Sir Alexander Bustamante the Prime Minister-Designate made a radio broadcast in which be restated the principles which had guided the Party since it was founded on July 8 1943, and which would still guide it as it led Jamaica on the path of nationhood. In the course of the broadcast he said:
“In 1938 when I first started to liberate Jamaica it was a time of great national troubles, and we were greatly in need of help of all kinds. I was offered communist help at the time and I refused it, for I have been always against communism.”
Symbolism of the Freedom Bell
The freedom bell became the electoral symbol of our Party for the referendum of 1961. The bell was introduced by the Rt. Hon. Edward Seaga sometime earlier at a party meeting at Bond Street and Spanish Town road to welcome Sir Alexander Bustamante. The ringing of the bell was accompanied by shouts of "Freedom"and from that moment both the bell and "FREEDOM" have become rallying points for the supporters of the JLP.
When the necessity arose therefore to change the electoral symbol on the ballot for the referendum, the JLP immediately selected the Bell which had an astounding effect in electrifying crowd response. The Bell continued to be our symbol after the referendum which was won by the JLP and continues today to be the electoral symbol of the party. |
