ALLIGATOR POND, Manchester — Addressing an enthusiastic sea-side crowd at the People’s National Party (PNP) divisional conference on Sunday, Senator Peter Bunting outlined an economic revival plan anchored on high-speed connectivity, business-process outsourcing (BPO) expansion, and community-driven tourism. The former Central Manchester MP is seeking to win Manchester Southern — and, with it, a mandate to implement what he calls “a rescue mission for the next generation.”
Broadband First: “No Student Left Offline”
Bunting recounted hiking through Plowden with his phone “raised like an antenna” to find a data signal, calling the spotty coverage “unacceptable in 2025.” He pledged constituency-wide fibre or LTE rollout, citing online classes, remote work, and entrepreneurship as immediate beneficiaries.
Jobs Engine: From Ward Avenue to Spur Tree — and Now South
Pointing to the BPO wave he helped ignite in Mandeville over a decade ago, Bunting said:
“We turned empty buildings into Sutherland’s campus and watched it grow into thousands of pay-cheques. South Manchester can repeat — and exceed — that success.”
He promised to leverage the region’s qualified graduates and proximity to Highway 2000 to lure new outsourcing investors.
Entrepreneurship & Micro-Finance
Bunting promised a revolving loan facility for start-ups, training programmes in e-commerce, and a digital marketplace powered by the very broadband he intends to install. The goal: keep young talent rooted in their home communities rather than migrating to Kingston or Montego Bay.
Community Tourism: Turning Coastline into Currency
Invoking the “Treasure Beach model,” Bunting said the 30-kilometre Alligator Pond-to-Milk River strip could host eco-friendly villas, farm-to-table restaurants, and guided tours. “When visitors arrive, money should filter through every household, not just a single hotel chain,” he stated.
Education & Health: “Track Record Over Talk”
Bunting highlighted the cluster of primary and secondary schools constructed during his two terms in Central Manchester, contrasting that output with the current Government’s record. He then took aim at the state of the Mandeville Regional Hospital, citing rising maternal-mortality statistics and calling for an urgent overhaul of regional healthcare governance.
Bigger Picture
Framing the campaign as more than an electoral contest, Bunting declared: “This is about securing Jamaica’s future. High-speed Internet, modern healthcare, and quality jobs are non-negotiable for our children and grandchildren.”
With Parliament expected to dissolve within months, Manchester Southern voters will soon decide whether Bunting’s broadband-to-BPO blueprint is the remedy they need.
