PRIME MINISTER P.J. Patterson defended the right to campaign politically in any area on Tuesday night as he addressed a rally in Port Maria, St. Mary, at the close of his eastern parish election tour.

"I believe that any political leader should have a right to hold a meeting any place in Jamaica," he said. "I believe every candidate should be able to walk in any part of his or her constituency."

Mr. Patterson then turned to attack the opposition Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), reminding the crowd of his perception of conditions under JLP rule.

"The JLP says they want to change things," he said. "I want you to turn your mind back to the period between 1980 and 1989, I want you to remember, every time you go to shop, price gone up," he said. "I want you to remember, you want to get something from abroad, some of you want to take a little travel to Miami or go Cayman, but dollar nah run. Now you go into the bank with your money and you say how many dollars you need and you get your money."

"They say I'm a man that have no mercy, but tonight I'm going to beg the camera crew," he said, addressing the orange crowd. "Have a little mercy. Don't make Seaga see the crowd. Don't make the Labourites see the crowd."

The build-up to Mr. Patterson's address was more a party than a political meeting for the St. Mary capital. "Let's get together and feel alright!" The crowd sang along with Bob Marley before new candidate for West St. Mary Dr. Neil McGill took to the stage just after 8 p.m.

The town centre was full with People's National Party (PNP) faithful drawn from St. Mary and Portland. Those who could find no room in the streets climbed onto security fences and roofs. The crowd on one particular roof had plenty of room and could bust the most spacious moves, even dash from roof edge to roof edge and wave their flags. As the selector teased them with snippets of songs, the crowd frantically danced and drank. The jury is still out on whether 45 seconds of Sean Paul's "Gimme the light" got a bigger roar than the Prime Minister's entrance. If Lili left any roads unscathed in Port Maria, the dancing that followed Nelly's "Dilemma" probably took care of it.

Dr. McGill was followed by the man with the widest smile in politics, PNP candidate for South East St. Mary, Harry Douglas. He bounced to the PNP campaign tunes before leaning on the elaborate lectern and addressed the throng in a constant high pitch.

"Comrades of the parish of St. Mary," he shouted. "Tonight PNP river come down bank to bank!"