MANDEVILLE, Manchester — Tension turned to laughter during Thursday’s meeting of the Manchester Municpal Corporation as a serving councillor from the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Iceval “Cherry” Brown hinted that Mayor of Mandeville, the People’s National Party’s (PNP) Donovan Mitchell will be successful in his bid to win the Manchester Central seat in the next general election.

Mitchell is slated to face off with the sitting Member of Parliament, the JLP’s Rhoda Moy Crawford in the election in what has been described as a traditional PNP seat but one which the JLP is determined to retain.

“Your Worship, it has been a long journey, but through the journey we laugh, we talk and we live good jokes, but nothing serious. I want to wish you all the best, Sir, and tell you the truth: I am going to miss you,” Brown, who represents Grove Town Division, said, sparking loud laughter in the chamber.

Brown tried to clarify her statement amid the laughter.

“We are people, we are human and we have to serve both JLP and PNP… I have been here and a lot of times I don’t understand certain things. I can go in his office and speak to him, so I say I am going to miss him. I mean, he is a human being. I am not talking about political. Some of us are too political, but the mayor is my colleague and I have been here for years,” declared Brown.

The meeting was the last sitting of the corporation before its summer break which lasts until September, and could be the last one to be chaired by Mitchell before the parliamentary election.

Before Brown brought some jocularity to the meeting, councillors from both sides of the aisle had clashed over political endorsements relating to the general election.

The clash started when minority leader Councillor Omar Miller (JLP, Craighead Division) attempted to voice his support for JLP aspirant for Manchester North Eastern Ambassador Audrey Marks.

“Two Sundays ago at our workers’ meeting at Holmwood, North East Manchester, Senator Audrey Marks was unanimously…” Miller said before being stopped by the mayor.

“That is not an announcement for the council,” Mitchell declared.

This led to shouting across the floor with councillors expressing their disagreement.

The three councillors on the JLP benches questioned how Councillor Mario Mitchell (PNP, Bellefield Division) was allowed to make remarks suggesting an endorsement of that party’s campaign in Manchester.

Mario Mitchell, while posing questions to the police at the meeting, had asked about plans to deal with political tension.

“… Because Manchester is going to go back to where it ought to be and where it is going, is it that there is tension politically from what the police are picking up?” Mario Mitchell asked.

He also raised concerns about reports of political intimidation and pointed to an incident on Saturday in which a man was shot by the police when cops responded to a political standoff over the placing of flags in Fine Grass, Manchester.

The man was hospitalised and later charged by the police with possession of a prohibited weapon and assault at common law.

Police named him as Fitzroy Blake, 45, otherwise called “Rasta”, a carpenter of Fine Grass.

“The People’s National Party had a very large and massive meeting in the Christiana space on Sunday, but what was very apparent to me was the heavy police presence. A day before there was an incident of political intimidation. I was happy to hear that the gentleman didn’t die. I also heard about another shooting in Devon which the rumors said was politically motivated and further [checks revealed] it was not,” he said.

Mayor Mitchell responded that he was among a group of political aspirants and incumbents who met with the police on Thursday to plan for safe campaigning.

He also defended his stance in stopping Miller.

“The announcement of a candidate for a particular geographic area that is outside of the scope of a division cannot be done in this council meeting. This is not a council meeting and if Councillor Mario Mitchell did do that, it must have been an oversight by me,” Mayor Mitchell said.

His response stirred further anger among the councillors.

“This is my last meeting of council,” Mayor Mitchell said.

Miller accused the mayor of being biased. However, the mayor ignored the comment and allowed Councillor Mario Mitchell to speak.

“For clarity, what I did was ask questions of the JCF Inspector [Berthlyn Lloyd] about the political tensions. I did not make a political statement. I hear their [JLP members] concerns and I know they are worried,” Mario Mitchell said while drawing the ire of Miller in accusing the Bellefield councillor of being dishonest.

“Behave like big people, nuh, man. Whaap’n, please behave like big people. People are watching online and I will not allow the meeting to descend into all of this,” an annoyed Mayor Mitchell said.

“He did say it and you are being biased. This is not a one-sided council. All of us are here and he said it… Play back the tape!” Miller shouted.

Following the uproar, the councillors calmed down and wished Mayor Mitchell all the best in his election campaign.