Mitchell 'not underestimating' Rhoda Moy Crawford in Manchester Central race

People's national Party (PNP) candidate for Manchester Central, Councillor Donovan Mitchell, says he is not underestimating his opponent, incumbent MP Rhoda Moy Crawford, as he seeks to unseat her in the upcoming general election.

“I don’t underestimate my opponent,” Mitchell said. “As a matter of fact, if the prime minister comes we will treat him the same way. We have put in the work, it’s just waiting now on the 3rd of September when we will seal everything.”

Mitchell, who is also Mayor of Mandeville and Chairman of the Manchester Municipal Corporation, was speaking before leading a large crowd of cheering supporters to be nominated at the Manchester Family Court building.

Reflecting on the party’s 2020 defeat in the constituency, Mitchell acknowledged past internal issues but insisted the PNP is now unified. “All those are behind us. This is one united PNP in Central Manchester,” he said. He also made it clear that despite speculation, “there was no falling out” with former MP Peter Bunting, who is running in nearby Manchester Southern.

“In 2020, things were different, you couldn’t have this big gathering and all of that. Today is a different day in Central Manchester… and we are going to show the opponent what Central Manchester can be like,” Mitchell declared.

He said key areas of focus for him, if elected, would include youth development, roads, and water.

Among his supporters was 53-year-old Everton Douglas, who said he was backing Mitchell out of respect for former Prime Minister and PNP President Portia Simpson Miller.

“Sista P a mi general. She mek woman can go on farmwork,” Gayle said. “Mitchell a wi daddy.”

Rhoda Moy Crawford of the Jamaica Labour Party is due to be nominated at 1 p.m.

- Jovan Johnson

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