The Electoral Commission of Jamaica, in a letter to Parliament, has stated that the proposed Portmore parish boundary may be in breach of a provision in the Jamaican Constitution.
The Senate voted on Friday to pass the Counties and Parishes (Amendment) Act 2025, granting parish status to the municipality.
All 10 Government senators present voted yes with all four Opposition senators voting no.
The ECJ's letter, dated February 12, 2024, noted that the proposed Portmore parish boundaries may negatively affect the boundaries of a constituency as stated in the Second Schedule of the Jamaica (Constitution) Order in Council 1962.
The letter also cited the section, which 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 law amending or replacing that law."
There is also mention of a previous correspondence sent to the Ministry of Local Government & Rural Development.
In that letter, the ECJ had indicated that the proposed boundary for the parish of Portmore would affect four constituencies, 13 electoral divisions, and 398 polling divisions from the parish of St Catherine.
The ECJ confirmed to The Gleaner on Friday that it had sent the letters, adding that it had not yet received a response.
The Portmore parish issue has been divisive, with the governing Jamaica Labour Party insisting that the move reflects the wishes of residents in the city municipality.
But the opposition People's National Party has argued that the process is problematic and is also alleging that it amounts to "gerrymandering" to secure political benefits for the JLP.
The PNP has pledged to repeal the legislation if it forms the next government.
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