Gov’t defends parish push for Portmore

The Government has dismissed the Opposition’s suggestion that the move to establish Portmore as the nation’s 15th parish is purely political and, instead, is accusing the People’s National Party (PNP) of opposing the matter without just cause.

“There is no justification that they have put forward as to why Portmore should not become the 15th parish,” said Local Government Minister Desmond McKenzie, who piloted the bill.

“It is clear that the PNP feels that if they are not the ones who are doing it, then it ought not to be done, and we are not going to be distracted by any mischief and propaganda that they are making about the Government’s decision,” he added while addressing a press conference following yesterday’s ceremonial opening of Parliament.

Earlier this week, the Government used its majority to push through legislation in the House of Representatives which amends the Counties and Parish Act of 1867, and if enacted, would give the community status as the first new parish in 150 years. The bill, however, remains to be passed in the Senate.

Fitz Jackson, the opposition spokesman on Portmore affairs, had labelled the development an attempt at political manipulation during the debate on the bill. He accused the governing Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) of using the new parish designation to solidify political control.

‘Anti-democratic’

Opposition Leader Mark Golding, during an earlier press conference following the Parliament’s opening, lashed the Government over the decision, calling it a “retrograde” and “anti-democratic” step.

“The message is that we abhor this attempt to gerrymander their way out of the consequences of the will of the people as expressed in the February 2024 local government election. This is what this legislation passed in the House on Tuesday seems to do,” he said.

Golding, in the meantime, reiterated that the party will reverse the parish status if it forms the next Government and will go back to the people with a proper consultation process to see how they want to proceed.

Regarding the party’s legal challenge of the legislation, Golding said the party was conducting the necessary research before filing a claim.

Meanwhile, McKenzie, in defending the move, explained that it was a commitment in the JLP’s manifesto and has nothing to do with the outcome of the pending election.

“It’s a commitment that was put to the people, and the people voted unanimously in support of the position to make Portmore the 15th parish.

“A number of issues, which have no merit, have been raised by the Opposition, and I want to make the point that it is solely on political grounds that the Opposition is placing their concerns,” he added.

Addressing a question about the role played by the Electoral Commission of Jamaica (ECJ) in parish boundaries, McKenzie said Parliament has no authority to establish political boundaries as this is the responsibility of the ECJ.

“Let me make the point, which the PNP is failing to make to the country, that there can be no gerrymandering of the political boundaries at the level of the ECJ because on that commission sit both members of the JLP and the PNP. Plus there are independent members. It is their responsibility to set political boundaries,” he said.

According to McKenzie, the Government will not be distracted by any “mischief and propaganda” that is being made about the Government’s decision.

Noting that the bill was first tabled in 2016, he said several consultations and discussions were had and that even the municipal corporation had made submissions in writing.

Therefore, the minister said, the argument being bandied about going to a referendum and a lack of consultation has no merit.

Additionally, he said, “I want to nonsense this political argument because if the intent was to use it as a political tool, we could have done so before the holding of the local government elections.”

Political ploy

McKenzie said the PNP’s criticism is simply a political ploy.

“They have run out of steam. They have no response to the programmes of the JLP, and we are not going to allow them to destroy what we have built since 2016 because they were there and they could not have done anything better than what we are doing,” he stated.

The minister said the PNP has done nothing to improve the lives of the people of Portmore and has nothing to boast about but wants to continue “to hold the people of Portmore in chains”.

McKenzie, when asked about the amenities that will be provided for Portmore, said he would provide details during his sectoral presentation but explained that the only requirement for a parish is a court, which is already in place.

In the meantime, Alando Terrelonge, the member of parliament for East Central, St Catherine, has described the tabling and passage of the bill as a historic moment for the people of Portmore

“When we speak about the growth and development of Portmore, that is fundamental to why it must become the 15th parish. Presently, Portmore’s population surpasses the population of three or four other parishes.

“When you speak about the tax brackets of Portmore residents, Portmore residents are some of the most highly tax-compliant residents across Jamaica. More than 94 per cent of Portmore residents are tax-compliant. This tax must stay in Portmore for your benefit,” he added.

Terrelonge said, “The only notion of gerrymandering is the one that is coming from the Opposition.”

Additionally, he said there are several anomalies, which would be corrected by giving Portmore parish status. This, he said, includes the fact that there are councillors in Portmore who are tied to Spanish Town and also that there are persons who are living in Spanish Town who are a part of his constituency but cannot participate in the election for Portmore mayor.

tanesha.mundle@gleanerjm.com