'We are going to run lef har' - businessman confident of PNP victory in Manchester Central

“We are not going to overhaul it, we are going to run lef har,” is the bold declaration from 86-year-old businessman and former member of parliament Calvin Lyn, a staunch People’s National Party (PNP) supporter, who is convinced the party will retake the Manchester Central seat in the upcoming September 3 general election.

He was speaking Monday, shortly before Donovan Mitchell was due to be officially nominated as the PNP’s candidate for the constituency.

Lyn, who once served as Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and MP for Manchester North Eastern, believes the PNP is in a far stronger position now than in 2020, when Peter Bunting lost the seat in a surprise result to political newcomer Rhoda Moy Crawford of the governing Jamaica Labour Party (JLP).

According to Lyn, internal problems within the party contributed to Bunting’s defeat.

Lyn admitted he did not take part in the last general election campaign. “Me never campaign 2020, won’t tell you why,” he said, but then added a warning: “Dem nuh fi fass wid Lyn. Mi wi sen duppy pon dem.”

This time, PNP councillor and Mayor of Mandeville Donovan Mitchell is seeking to unseat Crawford, and Lyn, a well-known funeral home operator, said his focus is now fully on getting the PNP back into office.

“I been on the campaign trail from last year when we won the municipal corporation. I tell you this... Donovan Mitchell is going to win this constituency by a good distance.”

“Anybody call me on the phone, me tell dem me busy, me a campaign fi get out this corrupt government,” he declared.

Still active in politics despite his age, Lyn described himself with a touch of humour: “I am a ratoon but me nuh rotten.”

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