Bunting to leave Manchester Central constituency

 

Senator Peter Bunting, People's National Party caretaker for Manchester Central, has announced that his name will not be on the ballot in the next general elections.

 

Mr. Bunting was unseated by Rhoda Moy Crawford in the September 3, 2020 general elections.

 

He announced his departure from the constituency during the Bellefield Divisional Conference in Manchester on Sunday night.

 

"This will be the last round of conferences - divisional and constituency conferences - where I am the standard-bearer, whether chairman or MP," he declared, indicating that he had already shared the news with his constituency executive in January. 

 

 

Mayor of Mandeville Donovan Mitchell has signalled his intention to challenge for the Manchester Central constituency in the next general elections.

 

Mr. Mitchell is also councillor for the Royal Flat Division.

 

Speaking Sunday night at the Bellefield Divisional Conference, Mr. Mitchell said he will ensure Central Manchester returns to the PNP. 

 

He outlined his various positions in different divisions over the years, suggesting he was well acquainted with the entire constituency, unlike the current MP. 

 

"I've been chairman of Mandeville Division. I've been treasurer of Bellefield Division. I’ve been a member of the Knockpatrick division. I’ve been councillor in the Royal Flat Division since 1998. I have been all over town. I've been chairman of the Manchester Central constituency. I have been secretary of the Manchester Central constituency. I have been road manager. I've been campaign manager, so I know the boundaries," he said.

 

Mr. Mitchell, who was critical of MP Crawford's stewardship, accused her of "gyrating and enjoying herself" at Carnival "while people are dying in the constituency". 

 

"[A]s a leader, as a Member of Parliament, your job is not only to give out grocery bags and take pictures and post. I don’t like it because I think you are belittling the poor little man who sometime don’t want his picture taken. And sometime [it’s] as if she run out a picture, she go into the Newport division and take picture and post it because she nuh know her boundaries," he added. 

 

Mr. Mitchell's campaign has been endorsed by Mr. Bunting.