MANDEVILLE, Manchester — Mandeville Mayor Donovan Mitchell, who plans to leave representational politics before the next local government election, says he regrets not seeing the fruition of a new market in this south-central town.

Noting that his predecessor Brenda Ramsay had started the process of exploring the establishment of a market district in the town, Mitchell said the fact that the project was put on hold was regrettable.

“That was one of the projects I wanted to really step up to the plate to [get done],” he told the Jamaica Observer last week.

He had also disclosed during that interview that he will not be seeking re-election as People’s National Party (PNP) councillor for the Royal Flat Division when the local government polls are called.

Plans were shelved for a three-acre property at the centre of Mandeville where the old, run-down market is located, to be redeveloped as a modern multi-storey complex, through a public-private partnership.

Nonetheless, Mitchell said he is pleased with the progress of the Greater Mandeville Traffic Management System.

The $80-million project, which incorporates roads and intersections being widened and signalised, is expected to create a ring road around the town.

“Just recently I have seen put to tender…the road rehabilitation and traffic management system for Mandeville and everyone would have known that I have been pushing it… and I am glad to see that it is coming to fruition,” he said.

“It, in and of itself, won’t solve the traffic situation in the town centre, but it will alleviate some of the problems,” he added.

Mitchell, 55, denied reports that he was being pushed out of the local municipality where he has served as councillor for almost 20 years.

“From where I sit at this moment I am still the mayor of Mandeville and the councillor for the Royal Flat Division until the next elections are called. It may be a perception or the feeling of some people, but they have not come forward to me to my face to say, ‘Mitchell, you need to go’. Until that time comes, then that is a different story,” he said.

Mitchell appeared to suggest that allegations of corruption which ultimately led to senior technocrats at the corporation being imprisoned adversely affected his time as mayor and chairman of the municipal corporation.

Within months of Mitchell being sworn in following the November 2016 local government election, the municipality faced questions of accountability in the Manchester multimillion-dollar fraud trial.

Sanja Elliott, former deputy superintendent of roads and works, who was described as the “ringmaster” in the defrauding of the corporation, was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment at hard labour in 2020. Four co-accused were also sentenced.

Former secretary manager and acting CEO of the corporation David Harris was sentenced to 16 months in prison at hard labour.

Former temporary works overseer Kendale Roberts was sentenced to 18 months at hard labour.

Carpenter/gardener Dwayne Sibbles was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment at hard labour on the count of conspiracy to defraud.

TashaGaye Goulbourne-Elliott, wife of Sanja Elliott, got a non-custodial sentence, and was fined $3 million.

Mitchell, while not being specific, said the municipality came under the microscope.

“There are some things that could have been done. There are some things that you would have personally wanted to do, but you must recall that when I took over in the Manchester Municipal Corporation there was a cloud over us, so the matter of accountability, transparency and integrity came into play and it took a little time to get the place settled,” he said.

“Our CEO at the time had resigned and it took a little time to get the things settled, but most of all now it is settled with accountability and all of that. That is one of my hallmarks, I have been able to get the place settled where people can work, but there are things to be done,” he added.

Mitchell took credit for successfully lobbying for the $48-million new ward at the Manchester Infirmary outfitted with 41 beds, which was officially opened last June. He also credited Local Government Minister Desmond McKenzie for his help in getting the project done.

“…I have said it over and over and people have asked me questions about it, the new building that was built at the infirmary, and a kitchen, are first class. We fought for it and we got it,” he said.

Regarding Manchester’s road network, Mitchell said that while it is not what he would want it to be, it is better than most parishes.

He added that there has been significant flooding mitigation in Mandeville, pointing to roads, such as Ward Avenue, with a history of flooding where there has been improvement, though corrective work remains unfinished.

“I was able to commence. It is not finished, the Ward Avenue situation, and even if we do have flooding one has to realise [challenges in getting the water off the road],” he said.

“There are some works left to be finished and once that work is finished then the entire Ward Avenue situation of flooding would be a thing of the past,” he added.

He pointed to investments in education in his division as one of his greatest successes.

“I feel proud that most of my input in the Royal Flat Division is about human capital. I have spent most of my resources to help students…”, he said while commending former Members of Parliament for Manchester Central John Junor and Opposition Senator Peter Bunting for their support.

“We have looked at the land settlement complex. We have done the extension to the Royal Flat Basic School [and] we did some work on the Comfort Basic School,” added Mitchell.