JLP’s Crawford secures second term in emotional victory

A reflective Rhoda Moy-Crawford yesterday expressed deep regret that her mother, Donette Delores Falconer – who had looked forward to voting for her daughter for the first time in this general election – did not live to fulfill that wish. Falconer passed away exactly two years ago.

Crawford, who shocked the political establishment in 2020 by unseating People’s National Party (PNP) heavyweight Peter Bunting by over 1,500 votes in her debut run, once again found herself in a tightly contested race – this time against PNP councillor and Mayor of Mandeville, Donovan Mitchell.

She told The Gleaner that, when she contested her first election, her mother was living in Manchester North Western, but she had moved to Manchester Central in order to be eligible to vote for her daughter.

“Initially, she wanted me to go into politics, but, towards the end when she saw me come under so much negative attacks, she questioned whether or not I should have continued. But she said, she [saw] the work that I have been doing for the people and, if that is my desire and passion, then she’d just have to support me,” she said.

But, although she felt the absence of her mother, who died suddenly at 58, the Grey Ground native said she was grateful for the support of her family, who turned up to support her.

“Overall, I had more than 45 family members who voted for me – grandpa, uncles, cousins, brothers, sisters, and I have family members voting in all four divisions,” she said.

In a high-stakes contest where many had written her off, the 37-year-old secured a second term, polling 9,098 votes to Mitchell’s 8,916. The win solidifies her position in a seat that has traditionally leaned PNP, with the party winning 10 of the last 13 general elections in Manchester Central since its establishment in 1967.

Crawford had campaigned on her record, claiming she was one of the best representatives in the constituency’s history. She highlighted what she called a record number of road repairs, the distribution of nearly 500 water tanks, and more than $30 million spent on education programmes.

The PNP has won 10 of the last 13 general elections contested in Manchester Central since the constituency was established in 1967.

sashana.small@gleanerjm.com