WATCH: Bunting walking away from politics in Manchester Central
MANCHESTER, Jamaica – Former Member of Parliament and People’s National Party (PNP) chairman for Manchester Central Senator Peter Bunting has indicated that he will not be seeking reelection in the constituency for the next general election.
Bunting made the announcement at the party‘s Bellefield Divisional Conference on Sunday night at the Bellefield High School.
“This will be the last round of conferences – divisional and constituency – where I am the standard bearer whether chairman or MP. I shared that with my constituency executive back in January,” he said.
Bunting lost to the ruling Jamaica Labour Party’s Rhoda Moy Crawford in the September 3, 2020 general election. Crawford polled 8,139 votes over Bunting’s 6,989 votes.
Bunting addressed the divisional conference after Mayor of Mandeville and councillor (PNP, Royal Flat Division) Donovan Mitchell announced his intention to represent the party in Manchester Central in the next general election.
WATCH: Mandeville mayor announces intention to represent PNP in Manchester Central
Bunting suggested that the relationship between himself and Mitchell, who served as his campaign manager during the 2020 general election, was on the mend.
“It is no secret the last three years we have not been as close as we always were, but I will say I feel like the father who spot the prodigal son, come home. I am giving instructions, let us kill the fatted calf and welcome him back, because I can tell you comrade Donovan Mitchell is one of the most formidable and talented politicians I have seen anywhere in Jamaica at any level,” said Bunting.
“If Donovan has decided that he is coming back fully into the fold. He is not of two minds anymore and he is a Bible man, he knows the Bible says a double-minded man is unstable in all his way, so we don’t want any more double mindedness from you. We want full speed ahead and believe me, if Donovan is fully back on the team there is no one who can stop Central Manchester from returning to the fold of the People’s National Party,” added Bunting.
– Kasey Williams
