Gov't and opposition continue to argue over Portmore parish plan

 

The start of the new parliamentary year reopened old wounds with an intense political battle for and against Portmore's parish status dominating agendas across the divide.

 

Following the Ceremonial Opening of Parliament on Thursday, the government and parliamentary opposition engaged in a tit for tat during back-to-back press conferences. 

 

The People's National Party, who came with a clear plan to denounce the government's use of its majority in the Lower House on Tuesday to push through the bill to make Portmore the 15th parish, had an early start after supporters ardently chanted outside Gordon House that the move is self-serving for the government.

 

The supporters including, Mayor of Spanish Town Norman Scott and other members of the St. Catherine Municipal Corporation barrelled down on the Jamaica Labour Party, accusing them of political gerrymandering and passing the bill without consulting Portmore dwellers.

 

Opposition Leader Mark Golding further detailed the opposition's concerns. 

 

"I think the idea is being sold on a false premise by the government because Portmore doesn't currently have the amenities that one associates with a parish, and will continue to rely on surrounding parishes for those amenities when it becomes a parish. It has been quite clear to us for a long time that this exercise is entirely a political manipulation exercise," Mr. Golding insisted. 

 

But the JLP went on the defence, making it clear that the government will not back down, despite opposition efforts.

 

A tough-talking deputy leader, Desmond McKenzie, rubbished the concerns, calling them a "political ploy" being used by an opposition that has "run out of steam". 

 

"The government will not be moved by any mischief that you make and we are going to be pushing back at the PNP because they must tell the country why they do not want Portmore to become the 15th parish of Jamaica. They must come out and say it," he asserted, further suggesting that the complaints about lack of consultations are baseless. 

 

"Don't tell me about consultations. I have repeated, we have had several consultations in Portmore. We have had several meetings, citizens associations, interest groups have been meeting and all the concerns that they are raising about Portmore, I will, when I speak in the Sectoral Debate, be making further announcements as to how we're going to improve Portmore and the things that are going to be done."

 

Mr. McKenzie also sought to address concerns about infrastructure that is present across all parishes and their capitals.

 

He contended that the only mandatory infrastructure for a parish is a court, which is already present in Portmore.