ECJ presents electoral boundary realignment proposal for new Portmore parish

The Electoral Commission of Jamaica (ECJ) has put forth a proposal for adjusting electoral boundaries in Portmore and St. Catherine, a necessary step after Portmore was officially designated Jamaica's 15th parish in February 2025. This realignment is guided by the Jamaican Constitution, which strictly prohibits constituency boundaries from crossing parish lines.

In a statement released on Tuesday, the ECJ indicated that the proposed changes are expected to affect four constituencies: St. Catherine South Eastern, St. Catherine East Central, St. Catherine Southern, and St. Catherine South Central. These adjustments were presented during a joint meeting on May 29 involving the Parish Boundary Advisory Committee (PBAC) and the Parish Boundary Forum (PBF) for Portmore and St. Catherine.

Director of Elections, Glasspole Brown, described the session as a "structured and constitutionally guided process," emphasizing that the ECJ is presenting technical proposals derived from GIS analysis and stakeholder input. "The feedback received will be carefully considered as we refine our recommendations for submission to the Parliamentary Boundaries Committee for further review and determination," Brown stated. Remoski Russell, the Geographic Information Systems (GIS) manager, led the presentation, detailing the proposed boundary adjustments and the technical review process.

The ECJ stressed its commitment to ensuring constitutional compliance while upholding fairness and accuracy in electoral representation. The process will continue through collaborative discussions with stakeholders, GIS-driven reviews, and validation before final recommendations are submitted for parliamentary approval. The commission reaffirmed its dedication to a transparent, consultative, and data-driven approach to effective electoral administration.

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This session marks an important step in a structured and constitutionally guided process. At this stage, we are presenting technical proposals developed through GIS analysis and stakeholder input. The feedback received will be carefully considered as we refine our recommendations for submission to the Parliamentary Boundaries Committee for further review and determination.