OCHO RIOS, St Ann Scores of Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) supporters turned out yesterday in this north coast town to publicly show their support for embattled leader of the party and prime minister, Bruce Golding.

Clad in the party colour (green) with shirts bearing images the face of their leader, the supporters braved the scorching sun and lined the Ocho Rios bypass, waving flags, ringing bells and chanting party slogans.

They were anticipating the arrival of Golding who was scheduled to attend the party's Central Executive emergency meeting at Sandals Grande Ocho Rios.

The crowd grew by the minute, and their chanting and singing of inspirational gospel songs echoed along the roadway as they took over the left lane of the dual carriageway.

"Bruce! Bruce! Bruce!" the placard-bearing supporters shouted. "Bruce is here to stay, Bruce nah go nuh weh, a fi wi prime minister'."

"Mr Golding is coming down Milford Road," member of parliament for North East St Ann Shahine Robinson -- who was among several of the party's hierarchy awaiting Golding's arrival -- was heard telling supporters about 11:45 am.

Golding arrived a minute later and was greeted by loud cheers as his vehicle approached and he emerged with a slight grin across his face.

"Mek mi touch mi leader, a my leader that. Resign what?" a woman wearing a shirt with Golding's face printed on the front and a cap with his name on it said as she made her way towards him.

His stop was brief as he hugged and greeted his loyalists, before he was whisked away in his green Land Cruiser to the resort where other party officials were awaiting his arrival.

One woman who journeyed from Western St Mary said the calls for Golding to resign as prime minister were baseless. She insisted that he had done nothing wrong, as there were no financial gains from the Manatt, Phelps & Phillips affair.

"How is it that the church, the church of all groups, is calling on him to resign without even offering to meet with him and pray for him and offer some form of encouragement and counselling?" the woman asked.

The supporters lashed out against Golding's critics, saying "persons without a sin should come forth and cast the first stone".

"This is not a scandal. Who have more scandals than the PNP?" asked another supporter. "They (PNP) cannot call on anybody to resign, he has done nothing wrong."

Member of parliament for North West St Ann Othneil Lawrence, who was among the crowd, said while he regretted what had transpired, Golding has his full support.

"I'm here to give him my support: he has been honest and I believe he has the interest of the country at heart, and the country has made significant strides under his leadership," said Lawrence.