Jackson, PM Holness clash over impending boundary shift in Portmore

By Nakinskie Robinson    

 

A clash ensued between Member of Parliament for Southern St. Catherine Fitz Jackson and Prime Minister Andrew Holness regarding the imminent boundary shift in Portmore, St. Catherine.

 

MP Jackson chided the government over what he said is a clear gerrymandering and reversal of the successful stewardship of past administrations since 1979 where the boundaries were determined through the Electoral Office of Jamaica.

 

He argued that some sections of his constituency will be left without central government representation once the boundary changes are realised. 

 

"There's a document submitted by the Ministry of Local Government with  boundary proposal, unilaterally determined. And what that proposal would do is to establish a parish that cuts off parts of two constituencies - mine is one [and] Minister Terrelonge represents a part. [They] will no longer belong to an established constituency," he complained, recalling Minister Everald Warmington's words that this shift would ensure the Jamaica Labour Party's dominance over those areas. 

 

This, he contended, is the definition of gerrymandering and would be a retrograde step that could taint the legacy of Prime Minister Andrew Holness. 

 

Mr. Jackson also fiercely criticised the government's use of the 1867 Counties and Parishes Act as part of its proposal for Portmore to become the fifteenth parish, and paving the way for the highly disputed boundary shifts. 

 

"That was promulgating then to allow the owners of properties to divide properties and estates for themselves. That's the antecedent of that act which is now being used to create political boundaries in St. Catherine," the MP argued, calling the act an imperialist legislation.

 

He urged the Prime Minister to rethink the shift and allow "good sense to prevail".

 

Mr. Jackson was addressing the handing over ceremony for a house under the National Social Housing Programme in Clifton, St. Catherine.

 

 

But Prime Minister Andrew Holness hit back at MP Jackson's remarks, describing them as dramatic.

 

Mr. Holness argued that Mr. Jackson's claim is misguided and could misinform those unaware of the government's proposal. 

 

"As I have pointed out, one of the data which is so important is that a large part of the constituency is uninhabited and probably will be the part that will be moved off and will not affect his votes," he insisted. 

 

"You know, when you were speaking by dear Fitz, I listened to you carefully. Now, it was never my intention to come here to address matters of boundaries and constituency, because as Ecclesiastes tells us, there's a time and a place for everything. It would appear that the real concern is not the improvement of the people's business but the loss of votes," the Prime Minister asserted.   

 

He was also addressing the handing over ceremony for a house under the National Social Housing Programme in Clifton, St. Catherine.

 

The recipient was among several people who had their partially built houses, said to have been constructed illegally, demolished during a government sanctioned exercise last October.