Portmore, a town in Jamaica, is set to make history by becoming the country’s 15th parish after 150 years. Andrew Wheatley, the Member of Parliament for South Central St. Catherine, revealed that it is highly likely that Portmore will attain parish status before the next local government elections in February 2024. This decision marks the first time since 1867 that a new parish is being created.
The initiative to establish Portmore as a parish gained traction last year when the House of Representatives approved the motion. A Joint Select Committee of the Parliament, chaired by Andrew Wheatley, was appointed to consider and report on the proposal. The recommendation put forth is to name the new parish Portmore, following the model used for Kingston, where the capital city shares the same name.
To make the transition official, a Bill has been drafted and is awaiting parliamentary approval. This Bill not only determines the boundaries of the municipality but also grants residents the ability to directly elect their own mayor. For the proposal to become legally valid, it must receive majority votes in both houses of Parliament. However, the People’s National Party opposes the move, arguing that Portmore currently lacks the necessary critical infrastructure to support parish status.
The move to grant parish status to Portmore fulfills an election promise made by the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) several years ago. Senator Kamina Johnson-Smith expressed that the vision for a new parish was originally shared by former Prime Minister Bruce Golding but was not realized. By establishing Portmore as a parish, with its young and vibrant population, the JLP aims to allow the municipality to collect property taxes and determine its own development plan. This would enable Portmore to grow and thrive according to the citizens’ desires.
It is worth noting that Portmore already has its own municipal council, a feature unique to the city among Jamaica’s parishes. This separate local authority system has operated independently from the parish it belongs to. With the potential transition to a fully-fledged parish, Portmore would also gain access to the parochial revenue fund, paving the way for the development of essential infrastructure such as markets, hospitals, schools, water supply, and roads.
While the decision regarding Portmore’s parish status remains a topic of debate, it signifies a significant and potentially transformative milestone for the town. With a focus on empowering local governance and community-driven development, Portmore could experience substantial growth and progress. Whether the necessary infrastructure is in place or not will continue to be a point of contention, but the prospect of becoming Jamaica’s 15th parish is now closer than ever for Portmore.
