KINGSTON, Jamaica — Leader of the Parliamentary Opposition Dr Peter Phillips says the Andrew Holness-led Government is deliberately circumventing the Electoral Commission of Jamaica (ECJ) and is departing from established agreements in its approach to change the municipal and divisional boundaries in Portmore, St Catherine.

A Joint Select Committee of the Parliamentmet met today to commence deliberations on the proposed changes.

Members of the Opposition insisted that any changes must be referred to the ECJ as has been the convention.

Phillips in a subsequent statement said “This move by the Holness-led Government undermines and circumvents the role of the ECJ. It also breaches established conventions and political understandings between both the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) and the People’s National Party (PNP) since 1979 in the setting up of the Electoral Advisory Commission and the Electoral Commission of Jamaica”.

He said the Opposition is not prepared to accept this breach of solemn assurances given by the prime minister at the Vale Royal Talks held in April 2018 when it was agreed that any changes to the boundaries would be treated by the usual approach and be settled by the Electoral Commission.

“Continuing with this approach threatens the basic political stability of the nation,” the Opposition leader said.