Mitchell declares PNP ‘united’ but faces tough task in Manchester Central
Published:Sunday | May 4, 2025 | 12:11 AM
Despite lingering scepticism from some constituents about his leadership, People’s National Party (PNP) prospective candidate Donovan Mitchell insists the party is united and ready to reclaim Manchester Central from the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) in the next general election.
“It can’t be much better. It is now at the point where we are doing what to do,” Mitchell told The Sunday Gleaner on Friday, highlighting recent efforts to rebuild the party’s local machinery – including the reopening of the PNP’s constituency office.
Internal divisions were widely blamed for the party’s shocking 2020 defeat, when former PNP Member of Parliament Peter Bunting lost to political newcomer Rhoda Moy Crawford. At the time, there were reports of a breakdown in the relationship between Bunting and influential PNP activist and businessman Kenneth ‘Skeng Don’ Black, who is based in the area.
But Mitchell says those issues are behind them and Black is now “fully on board”.
“Under my leadership, we are – Mr Black and I, or Mr Black and the PNP in Central Manchester – are at its best. As a matter of fact, we were together last night (Thursday) at a function. Mr Black is supporting us 150 per cent,” he said, adding that Black has “given us persons to help us to work”.
He added: “And we know what the work entails. And we are doing just what we are to do. We are doing our canvassing. I won’t say how we are doing it or what we are getting out of it. But the canvassing is being done to see the persons who have pledged their support for the People’s National Party.
“Up to yesterday (Thursday), I had a meeting with my councillors to look at the organisational issues and to look at some campaign issues going forward,” he added. “Funding is really an issue, but we have gotten commitments from persons that as soon as the date is announced, they will come forward.”
One area of caution is Bellefield, a longtime PNP stronghold that delivered just 1,466 votes to Bunting in 2020 – the party’s lowest showing there in five elections. Mitchell declined to say how the party plans to reconnect with voters in the division, but acknowledged Bellefield’s strategic importance.
PNP’s clean sweep
Still, Mitchell is buoyed by the PNP’s clean sweep in the 2023 local government elections across all four divisions in Manchester Central, including Knockpatrick, which they regained from the JLP. He sees that as a sign of renewed momentum.
Having served as councillor since 2007 (and earlier from 1998 to 2003), and as mayor of Mandeville since 2016, Mitchell is confident in his connection to the constituency.
“As a son of this side here, I am able to represent the people of Central Manchester,” the 58-year-old said. “I went to primary school, high school, and did my tertiary-level education right here.”
When asked to assess MP Rhoda Moy Crawford’s record, Mitchell was blunt.
“I keep hearing her saying that for 30 years or 40 years, the PNP has done nothing in Central Manchester … . I want to safely ask her to point to one tangible, infrastructural piece of work that she has done, that she imagined, she came up with it, she worked with the paperwork, and got it to fruition.”
While he acknowledged ongoing work on a clinic in Broadleaf, he dismissed road repairs as routine duties of any elected MP.
Top campaign issues
Among his top campaign issues are youth unemployment, access to potable water, health infrastructure, and homelessness in Mandeville. In Bellefield – one of the highest elevation points in the constituency – Mitchell aims to explore water storage and distribution solutions, including repairs to tanks, new infrastructure, and tapping alternative sources such as Windalco wells, water sources in Porus, or Clarendon’s water systems.
“We just have to take the bull by the horn and spend the money,” he said. “Every time we keep putting it off and say, ‘we don’t have the money to do it; we can’t get the water up there’.”
However, Mitchell cautioned: “I am making no promises. We’d have to look at what the Budget has and how best we can help to put it into play. ... The people really need the water.”
Mitchell also plans to revitalise community centres and create a more functional youth information hub. “Those that have done better in high school will be able to go there and help those that are weaker in some subject areas,” he explained.
Healthcare is another priority, with Mitchell expressing concern over the capacity of the Mandeville Regional Hospital.
“It needs some more work … to make it into a real hospital, ‘cause there are lands there that we just need to expand the hospital.”