Portmore's Mayor-elect Keith Hinds plans to start beautifying the Portmore municipality once he is sworn in as mayor.

Hinds, the Jamaica Labour Party(JLP) mayoral candidate for Portmore defeated the People National Party (PNP) candidate and incumbent Mayor George Lee, on Wednesday, to become the second mayor of the municipality. Hinds,, victory was a reversal of 2003 when Lee emerged victor.

While Hinds is happy for the victory, he said he is ready for the job.

"My first plan is to clean up the city," said Hinds as he responded to congratulatory messages from passers-by last night.

"We plan to beautify the place and that is one of the first things that we will be doing," said Hinds.

Hinds added there would be no period of rest as he faces a big task.

"Maybe its a good thing I won because I face a difficult task, but I always step up to the challenges and this will be a perfect opportunity for me to do so," he said.

The newly-elected mayor added that he would be continuing with most of the programmes started under outgoing mayor, George Lee, which were good.

"The ones which were worthwhile will be built upon and continued," he said.

Meanwhile, his opponent George Lee said while looking forward to private life and spending time with his family he will still be involved in Portmore.

"I'll be a private citizen. I'll be involved but not to the level that I was before. I will be spending time with my family and getting some much-needed rest but I'll still be around," he said.

Lee, however, said he would be watching the new administration very closely.

"I will be waiting and watching to see what Mr. Hinds does. I will be vigilant to ensure that the work in Portmore that I was criticised for not doing will be carried out. I will still be around," said Lee.