ECJ takes step in adjusting boundaries to make Portmore parish

 

The Electoral Commission of Jamaica (ECJ) has taken another step in redrawing constituency boundaries to align with the creation of Portmore as the country's 15th parish. 

 

In a statement Tuesday afternoon, the ECJ said it convened a joint meeting of the Parish Boundary Advisory Committee and the Parish Boundary Forum for Portmore and St. Catherine last Friday. 

 

This brought together about 70 stakeholders, including political representatives, election officials and community volunteers. 

 

Director of Elections Glasspole Brown says the consultation is part of a structured and constitutionally guided process to refine proposed changes before submission to Parliament's Boundaries Committee. 

 

He notes that the proposals are based on technical analysis and stakeholder input, and feedback from the meeting will be used to further improve recommendations. 

 

The ECJ says the proposed boundary adjustments could affect four constituencies - St. Catherine South Eastern, East Central, Southern and South Central. 

 

Geographic Information Systems Manager, Remoski Russell, outlined the changes, which are driven by new parish lines following legislation passed in February 2025 to formally establish Portmore. 

 

Under Jamaica's Constitution, constituency boundaries must not cross parish lines, making the current review necessary.

 

The ECJ says the process will continue with further consultations and technical reviews before final recommendations are sent to Parliament for approval. 

 

It maintains that the exercise is focused on fairness, accuracy and ensuring proper representation for the Jamaican electorate. 

 

The People's National Party has been challenging efforts by the government to review the Counties and Parishes Amendment Act of 2025 to declare Portmore the 15th parish. 

 

The matter was taken to court last year, and Chief Justice Bryan Sykes ruled that the government must give an unequivocal undertaking not to appoint a day for the Act to come into effect until the procedure prescribed in Section 67 of the Constitution has been complied with and an order is made on the Section 67 of the Constitution.

 

Section 67 of the Constitution deals with the process for a standing committee of Parliament to review the number of constituencies and boundaries.