EOJ Holds Second Consultation on Portmore Electoral Boundaries Ahead of Parish Status

The Electoral Office of Jamaica (EOJ) convened its second consultation on electoral boundary alignment for Portmore, drawing together political representatives as the area advances toward becoming Jamaica's fifteenth parish.

Officials outlined technical steps ahead, including renaming the three Portmore constituencies and renumbering polling divisions. East Central St. Catherine, for instance, could take a Portmore-based name. All three constituencies currently fall within legal upper and lower voter thresholds, though the EOJ is reviewing whether oversized divisions should be split. A polling division in East Central reportedly holds more than 1,300 electors and may be divided, with a similar case in South St. Catherine Southern. In Southeast, a division bordering Sandy Gully has no registered voters because the swamp land is uninhabitable; proposed parish boundaries could extend toward the Riverton City area.

Legislation to create the new parish has passed both houses of Parliament. Boundary and division changes will not take effect until the next general election, constitutionally due in 2030. The EOJ is working to a parliamentary timetable, with further meetings and field visits planned to map proposed cuts on the ground. The first consultation was held more than a month ago at a downtown Kingston conference centre; a follow-up session for St. Catherine parish members was scheduled separately.

South St. Catherine has more than 42,000 registered electors, Southeast St. Catherine more than 41,000, and East Central roughly 28,000. Some East Central polling divisions are expected to return to St. Catherine under the realignment. Officials pledged public education so residents can offer input before final lines are set.

Legal questions raised at the meeting will be referred for audit. Community participation beyond elected representatives has not yet reached the stage organisers say is needed. One participant dismissed the consultation as a powerless exercise rooted in gerrymandering and said they would not return.

Robert Miller, caretaker member of parliament for Southeast St. Catherine, said the work must continue despite stumbling blocks. He said Southeast St. Catherine is properly placed within the future Portmore parish, while South St. Catherine and East Central St. Catherine face the greatest boundary adjustments. Miller said citizens will be consulted as constituency names and polling divisions are redrawn.

Another speaker praised the EOJ's progress and pointed to Gregory Park, where no murder has been recorded in nearly two years, crediting police officers, Councillor Joy Brown, former ACP Christopher Phillips, and community members for improved safety as Portmore prepares for parish status.