JAMAICA | Court Halts Government's Unconstitutional Portmore Parish Plan: PNP Claims Victory in Legal Battle

KINGSTON, JAMAICA — In a stunning rebuke to the government's agenda, Jamaica's courts have forced an immediate halt to the controversial Counties and Parishes (Amendment) Act of 2025, vindicating the People's National Party (PNP) in their constitutional challenge against making Portmore the country's 15th parish.

The ruling represents a significant setback for the administration, which now finds itself legally compelled to provide "an unequivocal undertaking" not to implement the legislation until fully complying with Section 67 of the Constitution—a requirement the government had apparently attempted to sidestep despite explicit warnings.

"This victory is not just for the PNP but for every Jamaican who believes in justice, accountability, and the sanctity of our laws," declared MP Fitz Jackson, Opposition Spokesman with responsibility for matters concerning Portmore.

The legal intervention became necessary, he explained, after the government ignored formal cautions from Jamaica's electoral watchdog and proceeded in what Jackson characterized as "blatant breach of the constitutional process."

At the heart of the dispute was a letter dated June 18, 2024, in which the Electoral Commission of Jamaica had directly advised Parliament of potential constitutional violations inherent in the government's approach.

Despite this red flag from the independent commission, the administration pushed forward with its plans until the court-ordered stoppage.

"The Government's disregard for both the Commission's warning and the rule of law left us with no choice but to seek judicial intervention," Jackson stated. "The fact that the Court has compelled the Government to give an undertaking—effectively halting their unlawful actions—demonstrates the seriousness of their disregard for due process."

Jackson emphasized that his party will "continue to defend the rights of all Jamaicans and uphold the laws of the land as laid out by the Constitution," while urging the government to respect established legal frameworks in all governance matters moving forward.

The court’s ruling stems from an injunction sought by the PNP, which argues that the Government’s rush to implement the law violates constitutional procedures concerning constituency boundary changes. The case centres on the Counties and Parishes (Amendment) Act, 2025, which aims to grant Portmore parish status but has been embroiled in controversy over its potential to affect electoral boundaries and the constitutional integrity of the electoral system.

In a landmark decision issued on Friday, Chief Justice Bryan Sykes outlined the Government’s “unequivocal undertaking” not to bring the legislation into operation until it adheres to Section 67 of the Jamaican Constitution, which stipulates the procedure for adjusting constituency boundaries.

This ensures that the law will not be enforced until the necessary constitutional requirements are met, including consultations with the Electoral Commission of Jamaica (ECJ) and proper boundary reviews.

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