Manchester is the sixth largest of fourteen parishes that make up the island of Jamaica. Located in the county of Middlesex, it is often referred to as central Jamaica and is bordered by three other parishes. These are Clarendon, Saint Elizabeth, and Trelawny.
The capital of the parish of Manchester is Mandeville and this town once had the distinction of being considered the cleanest place in all of Jamaica. The parish of Manchester, and Mandeville in particular, is a favorite place for returning residents to settle. This is because in addition to all the amenities of modern living, the climate there is the nearest to what obtains in North America in terms of cool temperatures. There are colder places in the parish however, one of which is a place called Coleyville. There are nights when the fog is so thick there it is difficult to see beyond 10 feet, and at times this fog does not totally dissipate until well after sunrise. Stories are told of a man who when he went to a shop and ordered a cold beer the shopkeeper gave him one from off the shelf. The purchaser had no complaints; it was indeed that cold!
Manchester offers world-class health care service as it is served by two public hospitals, the Mandeville Hospital and the Percy Junor Hospital. In addition to these there is also the private Hargreaves Hospital and a plethora of private medical practices and clinics scattered generously throughout the parish. As it relates to educational institutions Manchester is represented at every level from kindergarten through University. The parish has in the past brought home the school challenge quiz trophy, underlining its intellectual supremacy among high schools throughout the country. It is also note-worthy that one of the island’s top three universities, the Northern Caribbean University, is domiciled in Manchester. This university has many international students in addition to its local student cohort. The parish of Manchester also stands out in the area of sports, especially track and field. The Manchester High School and the Holmwood Technical High School girls have won the annual Girls Track and Field Championships no less than eleven times between them. The Holmwood girls have taken home the coveted trophy for the last eight years in succession, 2003 through 2010. Both schools have acquitted themselves well at the Pennsylvania Relays track and field meet held annually in the United States. Some of the girls eventually go on to take up track scholarships overseas.
In so far as industry and commerce in Manchester is concerned West Indies Aluminum Company (WINDALCO) is a major player. Windalco, which is owned by Russian UC Rusal, deals in the production and exportation of bauxite, and is the parish’s biggest employer. Farming also plays a major role in the economy of the parish and many of the residents are what are considered small farmers. They grow cash crops such as carrots, cabbage, yams, beans, and tomatoes, while some rear livestock such as goats, pigs, and cows. In the past banana was grown on a large scale but that is not the case these days. The parish is noted for growing a lot of Irish potatoes, especially in the Christiana area.
Visitors to the parish will not experience much difficulty in finding comfortable and competitively priced accommodations. These are available at the Golf View Hotel, the Mandeville Hotel, the Tropic View Hotel, and the Villa Bella Hotel. Getting around will not be a problem either as buses, taxis, and rental cars are readily available to get you to wherever you want around the parish or island. For the persons interested in a game of golf or tennis the Manchester Club can accommodate you. Depending on what time of the year you happen to be in Manchester you may be able to watch, or even participate in a few of the sporting activities that take place. One such example is the High Mountain 10k road race, which is usually held in January. The race is named after its sponsors, who produce a world-renowned brand of coffee.
While not as actively marketed to visitors to the island as other sections of the island are, Manchester is well worth paying a visit to. It has a rich history, and for those interested in architecture of earlier eras prime examples are the Mandeville courthouse and the Bloomfield Great House. Both of these are in the town of Mandeville and while access to the interior of the Mandeville courthouse might prove challenging the opposite obtains for the Bloomfield Great House. This is because it has been converted into a restaurant, which serves up excellent local fare. The parish of Manchester happens to be the birthplace of one of Jamaica’s national heroes, Norman Washington Manley. This gentleman would eventually grow up to become one of Jamaica’s Prime Ministers. Another notable son of the parish is one Mr. Audley Shaw, who happens to be a member of parliament and the country’s Minister of Finance at the time of writing this article.
In closing there are three stops every visitor to the parish should do everything in their power to make. One is to buy a curried goat lunch at one of the restaurants at the top of Spur Tree Hill. It is highly likely you will end up eating two. The second stop is in Williamsfield at Tim’s Jerk Center for some finger-licking jerk pork. There is a slight catch here though; as if you are not early the goodies are likely to be finished when you get there. Last, but by no means least, is a stop at Little Ochi for some seafood. Once you taste the first mouthful you will understand why people come from all over the island, covering great distances to eat there. That first mouthful will also fill you with sorrow. This is because you will be reflecting on the fact that in a few minutes you will have gotten to your last mouthful and will have to leave.