St. Catherine East Central will become JLP stronghold - Warmington

By Nakinskie Robinson    

 

Member of Parliament for South West St. Catherine Everald Warmington says with the coming boundary shift in Portmore, St. Catherine, the Jamaica Labour Party will create a stronghold in the St. Catherine East Central constituency. 

 

Mr. Warmington, who was addressing party faithfuls at the St. Catherine East Central constituency conference on Sunday, said the People's National Party will no longer be competition in the Portmore municipality once the city is declared a parish.

 

He said with the candidate selections and boundary changes, he is confident that the JLP can establish a stronghold in the divisions in East Central St. Catherine heading into the upcoming local government election. 

 

"The most difficult of the three was Portmore Pines and we have made it much easier now. I've been fighting before 2011, when we had the last boundary change, that Portmore should not go to Spanish Town. And today I'm happy to say that we have the boundary that we wanted all along. Quarrie Hill, Lakes Pen, Lime Tree Grove, Grange Lane on that side will no longer be in Portmore Pines," he declared. 

 

Mr. Warmington asserted that the Jamaica Labour Party will have control of the Portmore Municipal Corporation once the separation is made. 

 

"When we tek Portmore off of St. Catherine, is a different ball game.... We have what, 41 seats now or 42 seats? Out of this 42, they have 12 in Portmore. We won two, they won ten. Yet, they won the St. Catherine Parish Council by one seat, even though they carry 10 from Portmore. Now, give them back them PNP 10. Leave us alone over here. And it means that under no circumstances PNP can ever win the St. Catherine Parish Council again. Never again!" 

 

In 2016, the Supreme Court ruled in favour of the Jamaica Labour Party to have sections of Spanish Town, St. Catherine, no longer included in Portmore.

 

The decision meant that electors in Lakes Pen, Quarrie Hill, Grange Lane, Clifton, and adjoining communities were barred from voting for a mayor for Portmore.

 

The Electorial Commission of Jamaica added that due to the boundary changes arising from the court ruling, residents in some areas would only be able to vote for a councillor.

 

More than 4,000 electors were no longer able to register a vote in the division due to the change.

 

 

Meanwhile, Member of Parliament for St. Catherine South Central Andrew Wheatley said the government is honouring its commitment to make Portmore the country's 15th parish.

 

Mr. Wheatley, who was also addressing the St. Catherine East Central constituency conference on Sunday, said the move will come before the upcoming local government elections. 

 

"Now Labourites, your government, your party gave a commitment to establish Portmore as Jamaica's 15th parish. That, Labourites, is a commitment that we gave and a commitment that we are going to keep. When the next local government election is called, Portmore will be a parish," the MP announced.

 

If Portmore becomes a parish, it will be the first time since 1867 that a new parish is established in Jamaica.

 

Prime Minister Andrew Holness has indicated that the government will not be seeking an extension to the local government election. It means Jamaicans will be going to the polls before the end of February 2024.