KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC -The Electoral Fee of Jamaica (ECJ) says the proposed parish boundary for the city of Portmore, within the central parish of St Catherine, could breach a provision within the Jamaican Structure.
The ECJ outlined its considerations in a letter to Parliament because the Senate on Friday voted to move the Counties and Parishes (Modification) Act 2025, granting the municipality parish standing.
All 10 authorities senators current voted sure, and all 4 from the primary Opposition Individuals’s Nationwide Celebration (PNP) voted no.
The ECJ’s letter famous that the proposed Portmore parish boundaries could negatively have an effect on the boundaries of a constituency as said within the Second Schedule of the Jamaica (Structure) Order in Council 1962.
The letter additionally cited the part that states that “the boundary of a constituency shall not cross the boundary of a parish as delimited by the Counties and Parishes Act or by any legislation amending or changing that legislation.”
The ECJ additionally indicated that the proposed boundary for the parish of Portmore would have an effect on 4 constituencies, 13 electoral divisions, and 398 polling divisions from the parish of St Catherine.
The Portmore parish challenge has been extremely divisive, with the governing Jamaica Labour Celebration insisting that the transfer displays residents’ needs within the metropolis municipality.
Nonetheless, the PNP has argued that the method is problematic and alleges that it quantities to “gerrymandering” to safe political advantages for the JLP.
The PNP has pledged to repeal the laws if it kinds the subsequent authorities.
