KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Government’s move to make Portmore Jamaica’s 15th parish advanced further on Friday as the Senate voted to pass the Counties and Parishes (Amendment) Act 2025 granting parish status to the municipality.

All 10 Government senators present voted yes with all four Opposition senators voting no.

Like it did in the House of Representatives on February 11, the governing Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) used its superior numbers in the Upper House on Friday to push through the bill.

Leader of Opposition Business in the Senate, Senator Peter Bunting declared the bill unconstitutional and warned that the People’s National Party (PNP) will fight it to the fullest extent of the law. He, along with senators Lambert Brown and Damion Crawford accused the Government of gerrymandering to create a political advantage in Portmore for the JLP.

Once the law is enacted, residents of Portmore will no longer be able to directly elect their mayor.

An amendment suggested by Senator Brown was rejected.He proposed that the communities that have been axed from Portmore be reinstated as a demonstration that it was not an attempt by the Government to give itself a political advantage.

The communities — Lakes Pen, Quarry Hill, Lime Tree Grove and Grange Lane — vote predominantly for the PNP.