JAMAICA | Opposition Leader calls for a halt to Portmore parish plans

KINGSTON,  Jamaica, December 27, 2023 - In a dramatic call to action, Opposition Leader Mark Golding has forcefully demanded the immediate suspension of plans to elevate Portmore to parish status.

In a passionately worded letter, dated November 20, addressed to Prime Minister Andrew Holness - a letter that still awaits a response - Mr. Golding vehemently argued for a pause in the proceedings.

This demand springs from recent startling revelations by South Western St. Catherine MP, Everald Warmington, on November 12, suggesting that the proposed boundary adjustments could tilt the scales in favor of the Jamaica Labour Party.

Golding's letter paints a vivid picture of potential political manipulation. He contended that the actions hinted at by Minister Warmington, seemingly endorsed by the Cabinet, could irreparably tarnish Jamaica's reputation, both domestically and on the global stage. He insists that any move to declare Portmore the country's fifteenth parish must be rooted in comprehensive dialogue with its residents.

Emphasizing the need for inclusive decision-making, Mr. Golding called for exhaustive consultations with Portmore's leadership across all strata, including community-level residents.

This process, he argues, should explore all aspects of the current structure, boundaries, and other relevant factors, keeping open the option of Portmore's elevation to parish status.

Mr. Golding's concerns stem from a deep unease about any redrawing of parish boundaries that could unfairly advantage the ruling party. He views such actions as an affront to the foundational principles and objectives of the independent Electoral Commission of Jamaica and the Representation of the People's Act.

The Opposition Leader pointedly criticized the government's motives, accusing it of pursuing parish status for Portmore out of a self-interested quest for political dominance and an intention to segregate Portmore from St. Catherine.

Concluding with a note of personal disappointment, Mr. Golding expresses his dismay over the Prime Minister's silence in response to his letter. Reflecting a blend of hope and resignation, he anticipates a possible reply post-Christmas, underscoring his enduring commitment to resolving these pressing issues.

Only last week Member of Parliament for Southern St. Catherine, Fitz Jackson, severely criticized the government's plan to unilaterally alter the political boundaries in Portmore in its dogged determination to create Jamaica’s  controversial fifteenth parish.

This proposed change, according to Jackson, is nothing short of gerrymandering, a manipulative redrawing of constituency lines that could potentially skew political representation in favor of the ruling party.

He argued that the new delineation, as proposed by the Ministry of Local Government, would sever parts of his constituency and that of Minister Terrelonge, leaving them without proper representation in the central government. 

This move, Jackson contends, is a reversal of the successful, collaborative approach to boundary determination that Jamaica has followed since 1979, overseen by the Electoral Office of Jamaica.

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