The heat is on again with the debate to designate the community known as Portmore, St Catherine, Jamaica’s 15th parish, and as discussions take place on behalf of the people in the nation’s Parliament it is hoped that the discourse does not get derailed by partisanship.

The Counties and Parishes (Amendment) Act, 2025, which seeks to grant the parish status, was tabled in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, January 28, 2025 by Minister of Local Government and Community Development Desmond McKenzie.

This ensuing debate must be accorded the sensitivity and esteem, as this represents the first time that a parish is being established in post-colonial Jamaica.

As stated in the Memorandum of Objects and Reasons: “It is envisioned that the designation of parish status on the municipality will strengthen its lobbying capacity; empower its citizens to more independently chart the course of development (rather than being subject to the decisions being made for the parish of St Catherine, of which the municipality is currently a part); and facilitate the opportunity to autonomously manage any allocated resources.”

Implicit in this is a focus on the residents. This cynosure ought not to be derailed.

Calling the spade the shovel that it is, we in this space know well that the active electorate therein will influence the talking points as borders are determined and statuses, such as a capital, are delineated.

But as the residents themselves look on, it would be in poor taste and a disservice to our achieved nationhood if they were haggled over as pawns and property in the mission to electoral victory.

We are encouraged by Member of Parliament for St Catherine East Central Alando Terrelonge who, in a release, stated: “I have always maintained that for Portmore to achieve its full potential it must be completely autonomous. This move ensures that the taxes paid by Portmore residents will remain in Portmore, directly contributing to the development of roads and other infrastructure, technology hubs, and innovation centres. We envision Portmore becoming Jamaica’s very own Silicon Valley, and this transition is a significant step toward that goal. This will also mean an increase in the property value of homes and businesses in Portmore thereby growing the wealth portfolio of its residents.”

This speaks to a commitment to putting the people of Portmore at the heart of the conversation.

In a front-facing acknowledgement, however, Mr Terrelonge said, in response to political arguments against the move: “What most persons do not understand is that currently the St Catherine Municipal Corporation (SCMC) has 41 councillors, with 20 representing the Jamaica Labour Party and 21 from the People’s National Party (PNP). Nine of those councillors for the PNP who sit in the SCMC also sit in the Portmore Municipal Corporation. If Portmore becomes a parish, these nine councillors and the three who represent the JLP will no longer have seats or influence in the management of the SCMC. That is the real basis for the political posturing of the Opposition.”

Herein lies the rub. But the residents of Portmore have a duty to ensure that influence and allegiance — while they cannot be avoided — do not become the centrepiece of the decisions made.

We look on in hope of a respectful debate that will give due honour to what is poised to be another milestone in the story of this nation.