There were tense exchanges among councillors during Thursday’s sitting of the Manchester Municipal Corporation over the endorsement of political candidates ahead of the next general election.
The chaos started when councillor for the Craighead division, the Jamaica Labour Party’s, JLP, Omar Miller, tried to announce Ambassador Audrey Marks as the party’s aspirant in North East Manchester.
Shaloy Smikle reports.
The standoff in Manchester Municipal Corporation started as councillor Omar Miller rose to announce Ambassador Audrey Marks as the JLP’s aspirant in North East Manchester.
Miller had previously been vying to replace outgoing MP Audley Shaw.
However, his announcement was cut short by mayor of Mandeville, the People’s National Party’s, PNP, Donovan Mitchell.
Mayor Mitchell is the PNP’s caretaker for Central Manchester. He’s expected to be the challenger to incumbent member of parliament, the JLP’s Rhoda Moy Crawford, when the general election is called.
His comments sparked a trade of words across the political aisle. The JLP councillors accused him of being biased, as he allowed councillor for the Bellefield division, Mario Mitchell, to endorse the PNP.
Councillor Mitchell sought to clarify that he was not endorsing the PNP to no avail.
Mayor Mitchell sought to bring order to the council meeting before saying it may be his last. Thursday’s council meeting was the last possible sitting before the general election, as it went on recess for the summer.
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