MANCHESTER, Jamaica — An optimistic Rhoda Moy Crawford has predicted that there will be major upsets in Manchester Central even as she reiterated that the traditional stronghold of the People’s National Party (PNP), Bellefield, is key to her chances at the polls.

“Look to the hills this evening, because they are going to be seeing a lot of upsets. I mean, last year in the local government election we won some [polling divisions] in Bellefield that we never won before and based on the level of representation that I have taken to Bellefield, I am very confident that all of the four divisions — Bellefield, Royal Flat, Mandeville and Knockpatrick — they are coming out and coming out strong,” Crawford said on Wednesday.

Manchester Central is being contested by Crawford, the Jamaica Labour Party incumbent; and Mandeville Mayor Donovan Mitchell of the People’s National Party (PNP).

Mitchell replaced Peter Bunting, who after losing to Crawford in the September 3, 2020 General Election, is now vying to contest the Manchester Southern seat. Crawford had polled 8,139 votes to Bunting’s 6,989.

Crawford told journalists at 10:30 am after she cast her ballot at Royal Flat Community Centre that her support base has grown compared to the 2020 election.

“I don’t feel pressured at all, because I have done the work and everywhere that I go the support and the love is just overwhelmingly positive. Just before coming here I stopped at seven polling stations across the constituency and persons were literally running out of line declaring that we are in support of you…” she said.

“I have never seen anything like this. Not even in 2020 even as we move about we have excited people who are not formal workers who are calling to say ‘Miss Crawford, I have a car ready I have some shut-ins that we want to take’,” she said.

She also hit back at naysayers regarding rumours about her campaign funding.

“My campaign was heavily funded. I won’t disclose the figure now, but I have never received this amount of support from the party and the business community before. My proudest achievement is having been able, in less than five full years, to rehabilitate 47 roads across the constituency…” she said.

She expressed confidence in retaining the seat which has long been considered a marginal PNP constituency and explained why road repairs were being done close to election day.

“Persons know how the procurement process is, so these roads that you now see happening last week were submissions that were long done and this is one of the things we have heard Prime Minister Holness mention in Parliament… the need for us to do something about the lengthy procurement exercise,” she said.

“When I am re-elected [my task] is to continue on the excellent work we have started. More road repairs coming up on the SPARK programme. We are definitely going to be bringing one of the iconic Mandeville signs to the parish and the constituency. I am looking forward to seeing the national park. More free WiFi hotspots… it is quite a lot of work,” added Crawford.

— Kasey Williams