With legislation in the works to make the town of Portmore, Jamaica, its own parish, Prime Minister Andrew Holness said similar changes are being considered for the resort town of Negril in Westmoreland.
While commenting on plans for Portmore parish status during the official launch of the $4.4-billion Portmore Resilience Park on Thursday, Holness hinted that the Negril might be considered for similar administrative changes.
“There is another area where its own administrative personality is emerging and which we will have to consider some change in how their affairs are administered, and that is Negril. You will understand that the town of Negril has grown; it has grown out of Westmoreland into Hanover and it is now creating a problem as to which Municipality has charge over its development,” the Prime Minister said.
“So, these are things that happen as populations grow, as countries grow and we shouldn’t be afraid of it, we should embrace it as part of the change and that is how we as Jamaicans start to take responsibility In for our own future and destiny. So, we need to put aside the political fear,” he added.
Portmore is the only town in Jamaica that has municipality status, as all parishes on the island do. The town also has its own city council and mayor.
Municipality status for Negril, which is now shared by the Hanover and Westmoreland municipal corporations, could pave the way for the town to become a parish.
Portmore parish status won’t happen before elections
In the meantime, the Prime Minister also gave an update on the legislation to make Portmore Jamaica’s 15th parish, saying although it has been drafted, the government will not have it approved in Parliament before the local government elections.
The elections, which were last held in November 2016, are slated to be held no later than February 28, 2024.
“Our Bill is ready to go to Parliament. We were ready for a little while now, we will not take it to Parliament, we will probably… table it but we will not pass it, because there is no way that we could seek to establish a parish and it be clouded in political accusations. No, we would never do that, and I want the people of Portmore to be assured of that,” he said.
The Prime Minister said the decision is necessitated by the need for proper administration of the affairs of the rapidly developing municipality.
“I use political in two senses, one sense is the contest for power and the other sense is the administration of the affairs of the people, the participation of the people in the administration of their affairs. Portmore has reached the point, and it has reached that point long ago, where we must now provide for the proper administration of its affairs –economic, social, cultural, infrastructure, security – all of the local affairs,” he noted.
Holness said there is a standard process engaged for changing political geographical boundaries.
