BELLEFIELD, Manchester — Despite supporters shouting “You can’t go nuhweh”, Peter Bunting, who lost the Manchester Central seat in one of the biggest political upsets in the 2020 General Election, told his fellow Comrades on Sunday that he would not be seeking re-election in that constituency at the next national vote.

And, in an obvious move to declare his decision final, Bunting, now an Opposition senator and chairman of the People’s National Party’s (PNP) constituency organisation, endorsed Mandeville Mayor Donovan Mitchell’s bid to contest the seat at the next general election.

“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,” Bunting said at the party’s Bellefield Division conference on Sunday.

Bunting, who had won the seat at three consecutive elections since 2007, did not say whether his decision was limited to Manchester Central or overall representational politics.

His endorsement of Mitchell, though, suggested that the relationship between both men 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,” Bunting declared.

Mitchell, who is the councillor for the Royal Flat Division, had served as Bunting’s campaign manager during the 2020 General Election which Bunting lost to political newcomer, the Jamaica Labour Party’s (JLP) Rhoda Moy Crawford.

Bunting received 6,989 votes to Crawford’s 8,139.

In mid-2022 Mitchell told the Jamaica Observer that he would be stepping away from representational politics due to health and other reasons.

However, seven months later he told the Observer that he was reconsidering his decision to leave politics.

On Sunday Mitchell touted his experience in Manchester Central.

“I want to say to the leaders of the party that I, Donovan Mitchell, it is my greatest intention to make sure that Central Manchester returns to the folds of the People’s National Party. We will do it like Winston Vassel Jones did it for 25 years. We will do it like John Junor did it for many, many years. We will do it like Peter Bunting, and so help me God if I get it, them (JLP) can’t get it back,” Mitchell said.

“I’m sending a warning. If you think mi done; young bud nuh know storm and I am ready for the road. I have been chairman of Mandeville Division. I have been treasurer of Bellefield Division. I have been a member of the Knockpatrick Division. I have been councillor of the Royal Flat Division since 1998. I have been all over town,” said Mitchell.