But only 150 turned up to hear of plans to replace sales tax and ’20 means 20′ income tax by removing the cap on social security payments and increasing business and trust registration fees.
Promises were also made to spend Rainy Day Fund interest on capital projects for tourism.
Nevertheless, the meeting confirmed that party politics has returned to the Island, with chairman Deputy Geoff Southern introducing candidates Deputy Judy Martin, Shona Pitman, Denise Carroll and Steve Pallett to the audience – and promising that more would be joining them on the election trail.
Former interim chairman Tony Keogh was present, as were two independent Senatorial candidates, but there was no appearance by the party’s founder, former Senator Ted Vibert.
The meeting was far removed in scale from April’s Fort Regent inaugural event, replacing a 900-strong crowd in the hall with 150 in a marquee, live bands and a compère with music played over a PA system, and firebrand oratory with a calm review of election policies.
Deputy Southern and the other four JDA candidates told the crowd that they could force a real change in Island politics.
