The JLP is trying to halt the PNP's string of seven consecutive electoral victories dating back to 1989 and the PNP is trying to keep Prime Minister P.J. Patterson's unbeaten record in elections intact. The parties, according to senior officials, have left nothing to chance.

"I spent most of the day in the parishes of Portland and St. Mary and I must say that we are as ready as we can possibly be," said an upbeat Maxine Henry-Wilson, PNP general secretary. "As a matter of fact, I think we are even better organised than we were in last year's General Election."

MODERATE TURNOUT EXPECTED

Asked what sort of turnout she expected, Mrs. Henry-Wilson said she has seen nothing to indicate that the numbers will be anything spectacular. "Nothing has been said or done that would motivate people to flock to the polls ­ at least I haven't seen it," she said. "As is customary for Parish Council elections, I expect the turnout to be either moderate or low."

Ken Baugh, her JLP counterpart, was equally upbeat. "Everything is in place... the deputy leaders have all done what they had to do and yes, we expect to win," he said last night. "We are ahead for certain in three parishes and in a dead heat in a couple of others, which we think we can pull off." Asked about the turnout, Dr. Baugh said it would be in the JLP's favour "if it is higher than usual". "A reasonably good turnout would favour us," he said. "Regardless though, it will be an interesting contest."

Meanwhile, in western Jamaica, traditionally a PNP stronghold but now considered a major battleground in light of the JLP's impressive showing in last October's polls, both parties have been flexing their muscles.

According to Edmund Bartlett, the JLP's deputy leader with special responsibility for western Jamaica, his party intends to consolidate on the gains they made in last year's polls by winning at least four of the five councils in the region. In addition, he said the JLP would have at least four of the five mayors when "all the dust has settled".

"We are looking at a complete wipe-out in Trelawny, six out of seven in Hanover, a minimum of five to seven in Westmoreland and at least eight of the 17 seats in St. James," said Bartlett, who has been credited for turning around the fortunes of the JLP in the west. "Despite the heavy spending by our opponents, I think the momentum is with us and we expect to do very well."

However, the PNP, which copped 15 of 17 in St. James, five of nine in Trelawny, four of seven in Hanover, eight of 15 in St. Elizabeth and all 14 in Westmoreland, in the 1998 Local Government elections, has been quite active on the ground in the region and is bent on salvaging the losses suffered last October.

"We have done a lot for Local Government and are expecting the people of the region to give us a mandate to continue," said the chairman of the PNP's Region Six and Member of Parliament for South St. James, Derrick Kellier. "As things are, we expect to sweep Westmoreland once again and we are looking to get at least six out of seven in Hanover. We expect to win St. James, but that is definitely too close to call."