MANDEVILLE, Manchester — Rhoda Moy Crawford, the incumbent Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) candidate for Manchester Central, staved off a challenge from Mandeville Mayor Donovan Mitchell of the People’s National Party (PNP) in what was expected to be a fierce battle for a seat for which she created a massive upset in the 2020 General Election.

Based on the preliminary count Crawford polled 9,098 votes to Mitchell’s 8,916 winning by a margin of 182 votes.

Crawford told journalists that she felt as though she was contesting an election with three opponents combined for the PNP.

“I ran against three men — Donovan Mitchell, [Calvin] Lyn, and Skeng Don [Kenneth Black] himself — and I am victorious. I must also commend the middle class, who came out in their numbers, and I must thank the business community of Mandeville for investing heavily in my return,” she said in Greyground Square late Wednesday night.

Crawford, who earlier in the day had pointed to significant backing from churches, said her support came from a wide cross section of constituents.

“All the initial praise belongs to God Himself. It has proven to me that His words are true and that indeed His plans are to prosper me. Secondly, I have to thank the party leadership and my parliamentary colleagues for their support. I have to thank my Campaign Director Rayharna Wright for once again leading us to victory. I have to thank my thousands of party workers from the Royal Flat, Knockpatrick, Bellefield and Mandeville divisions and, of course, the 9,000-plus supporters who came out and fought against an institution,” she said.

Crawford said she was able to mobilise the JLP’s base without the support of a sitting councillor following the clean sweep by the PNP in the February 2024 local government elections.

“I have been able to achieve this victory with no support of councillors, because you know we didn’t get any councillors in the parish council election last year, so this victory we are going to be focusing on the candidates for the next local government election, so that we can have good representation at the municipal level,” she said.

Crawford first created a political upset in 2020 when she defeated PNP heavyweight Peter Bunting, polling 8,139 votes to Bunting’s 6,989.

Mitchell replaced Bunting, who, after losing to Crawford, contested the Manchester Southern seat on Wednesday. He garnered 8,573 votes to defeat the JLP’s Ian Ives who polled 7,903 in the preliminary count.

Crawford said her strategy was well-organised by her campaign team who worked quietly to secure victory.

“One of the things my campaign director emphasised is that we weren’t going to get caught up in the hype; we were going to focus on the real work. Getting into the communities, meeting people, getting the divisions organised, getting our workers’ list in shape, that sort of thing,” she said.

“A lot of persons were wondering initially what was happening with our campaign, but we were quietly putting in the necessary work and I must tell Jamaica that I am especially proud, because we didn’t have to buy one single vote. I can show you messages of persons telling me today that they have 20 people in the yard. They have five people and we told them straight: We are not buying any votes, because I have worked hard and if I can’t be returned based on the work I have done, then I didn’t deserve to be re-elected,” added Crawford.

The Member of Parliament-elect said she has great plans for Manchester Central and will be continuing her work immediately.

“We get back to work on Thursday, continuing the tuition distribution, continuing the distribution of water tanks, more road repairs. Just a lot more work, no rest. We will be done celebrating tonight after we move through Greyground Square. We are motorcading across the constituency. We are motorcading again tomorrow (Thursday) and Friday. We are burying Donovan [Mitchell] tomorrow.” she said.

Earlier in the day there were long lines at some polling stations in Manchester Central. At McIntosh Memorial Primary School, Mitchell was among electors who waited for over an hour to cast their ballot. A short distance away in the same Royal Flat Division Crawford was allowed by electors waiting in line to vote immediately as she arrived at Royal Flat Community Centre shortly after 10:00 am.

Member of Parliament-elect for Manchester Central, the Jamaica Labour Party’s Rhoda Crawford holding seven-year-old Jayceann-Lee Hendricks atop her vehicle. Looking on is Crawford’s Campaign Director Rayharna Wright. Photos: Kasey Williams

Rhoda Crawford greets supporters in Greyground, Manchester, on Wednesday night after winning the seat for a second-consecutive term.

Member of Parliament-elect for Manchester Central, the Jamaica Labour Party’s Rhoda Crawford displays her voter’s identification card and index finger after voting on Wednesday.

MITCHELL… contested the Manchester Central seat for the People’s National Party