Here’s Why Portmore Should Become Jamaica’s 15th Parish

Overview

There has been much debate about Portmore becoming a parish in the last two years. This debate accelerated when the House of Representatives passed a Bill to make Portmore the 15th parish. Residents in and outside Portmore question the move – asking why it should become a parish. There are several gaps in public knowledge regarding this move that I plan to fill. By the end of this article, you will understand ‘Why I believe Portmore Should Become Jamaica’s 15th parish’.

History of Parishes

What is a parish and why do we have 14 of them?

Jamaica’s parishes originated from our colonial history under Spanish and later British rule. The Spanish controlled Jamaica from 1494 to 1655 and divided the island into administrative units. The British formalized the parish system after ‘capturing’ Jamaica in 1655.

Under British rule, Jamaica was initially divided into three counties—Cornwall, Middlesex, and Surrey—for administrative and judicial purposes. Within these counties, parishes were established to provide better governance and organization. The number of parishes fluctuated over time, reaching as many as 22 parishes in 1865. The British government reduced the number to 14 in 1867 to improve governance and administration. That is how we ended up with our current 14 parishes today.

Jamaica’s Former 22 parishes. Source: Fiwi Roots

Note Well: The reduction from 22 to 14 was designed to make the island easier to govern. This was done by consolidating smaller and less populated parishes into larger administrative areas. Each parish serves as a local government division, playing a role in law enforcement, infrastructure development, public health, and other administrative duties.

Difference Between Central and Local Government

Central Government operates at the national level and is responsible for the entire country. Includes Parliament, the Prime Minister, Cabinet Ministers, and national agencies. Manages national security, foreign affairs, taxation, education policy, healthcare, and economic development. Decisions made at this level apply to the entire island.

Local Government operates at the parish level, with Municipal Corporations (formerly Parish Councils) managing local affairs. Overseen by the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development. Responsible for local infrastructure (roads, markets, street lighting), waste management, minor water supply projects, and local disaster response. Each parish has its own Mayor and Councillors who manage local governance.

In summary, Central Government handles national policies and major governance issues, while Local Government focuses on community-level administration and services.

Why is Portmore a Municipality?

The will of the people

Residents of Portmore had long advocated for their own governance structure, arguing that the area had grown significantly in population and economic activity and needed better representation and more direct management of its affairs. The Municipality was created after an Act of Parliament was passed on June 19, 2003. This was the result of nine years of advocating by the residents. An individual of note was former journalist, politician and community advocate, George Lee, who would become the municipality’s first mayor. Lee and other residents advocated for municipality status because of the high number of communities springing up in Portmore. These communities did not have the requisite infrastructure to support them. What we see here is a push for self governance by the residents due to population growth.

The Portmore Experiment

A Special Municipality

The Portmore City Municipality was the first local government body in Jamaica to have its Mayor chosen by direct popular vote, rather than by a council vote. Since its establishment in 2003, Portmore has been the only municipality with this arrangement. No other Jamaican municipality or parish currently has a directly elected mayor – all others use the traditional model of councillor-selected mayors. Portmore’s case stands out in Jamaica’s local government history as a bold step toward increased local democracy. Portmore’s municipal council consists of 12 elected divisional councillors plus the mayor as a separate, at-large elected official. The mayor presides over the council but does not represent a single division, reflecting a more presidential style of local leadership​.

Split Allegiances

Divided Attention

There were some key issues with Portmore’s designation as a Municipality. Duly elected councilors in Portmore have to attend St. Catherine Municipal Corporation meetings. If they do not attend the meetings, they will not be paid. The first allegiance of a Portmore Councillor is to the St. Catherine Municipal Corporation. One could simply attend the St Catherine Municipal Council, avoid all Portmore Municipal Council meetings, and still get paid. Residents of Portmore deserve representatives who do not answer to another parish council.

Residents in Caribbean Estates, Phoenix Park Phase 1 and 2, Bernard Lodge, etc. cannot vote for their mayor. This is a great injustice to many people who contribute taxes to Portmore. Why is that? Communities that are ‘North of Monza, Daytona’ is not treated as a ‘part of Portmore’. Parish status would correct this Injustice.

Google Map of Portmore

Population Growth

A line drawn in the sand

Portmore becoming a parish means that all taxes paid by the residents can be funneled into the needs of the people. The number of people in the parish has exploded in the last 20 years. I am going to use the population as a means to justify parish status. This should be the ‘line in the sand’ and metric used going forward before we turn a city into a parish.

Recent estimates show that Portmore’s population is between 200,000 and 250,000. This would mean that Portmore has more people than the parishes of Hanover, Trelawny, Portland, St Mary, Kingston, St Thomas, St Elizabeth, and St. Ann.

The population of each parish is based on the 2011 Housing Census. The total for St. Catherine included the Portmore numbers.

I believe that a key requirement for becoming a modern parish is having at least 140,000 residents. This number was arrived at by removing two key outliers, St. Andrew and St. Catherine, and then finding the average of the remaining parishes.

It is important to note that more communities are being built in Portmore so the population will expand greatly. One key development is the Greater Bernard Lodge Expansion. This expansion is set to deliver approximately 15,000 to 17,000 new housing solutions. For argument’s sake, let’s say that 15,000 houses are and 2 persons occupy each. That is 30,000 more residents living in ‘Portmore’.

Legal Requirements

What does the law say about becoming a parish?

In Jamaica, there is no specific constitutional or legislative framework that explicitly outlines the legal requirements for an area to become a parish. However, based on historical precedence and governance structures, the following factors are considered essential for an area to be designated as a parish:

Key Requirements for Parish Status in Jamaica (Based on Precedent)

  1. Legislative Approval – The Government of Jamaica must pass an Act in Parliament to create a new parish or modify existing ones.

The Governor-General would formally sign off on any such legislation.

  1. Population Size & Economic Activity – A potential parish must have sufficient population density to justify independent local governance.

It must also have an economic base (e.g., agriculture, industry, commerce) that supports self-sustaining development.

  1. Administrative Infrastructure – A parish must have local government offices, courts, and essential services.

It should be able to operate independently from another parish’s administration.

  1. Geographical Significance & Boundaries – Historically, parish boundaries were defined to cover strategic and manageable geographic areas.

A new parish must have clearly defined borders that do not conflict with existing administrative divisions.

  1. Public Consultation & Political Will – The decision to create or alter parishes usually involves public consultations and support from local representatives and government officials.

The entire ‘Portmore needs a hospital’ argument likely stems from point 3. A hospital isn’t clearly stated, however, it was highlighted by a Portmore MP that parish status would help Portmore get a hospital. While our laws don’t require a hospital, it’s clear that parish status will make getting the hospital so much easier. If the taxes of Portmore are used solely for its development, then several projects can be fast tracked. The residents can look forward to expanded roads, new entries into Portmore, and other infrastructure.

Buckling Infrastructure

Every morning, Portmore has highly congested traffic. A 10-minute drive out of the city turns into a 30+ minute drive. This situation also happens in the evenings as residents return home from work. The traffic situation is just one of many issues faced by the residents. As more housing schemes pop up, there will be greater demand for electricity and water. Roads will need to be adjusted for these new communities. If more care and attention is given to the new parish, then expanded public transportation can be invested in. One such project is a Ferry system from Helshire to Downtown Kingston.

Proper drainage is needed to prevent flooding in the parish. As sea levels rise, more communities will become flood prone. Many persons still view Portmore as “swamp land”.

Crime is a big issue in Jamaica, and as more persons flood into Portmore, we may see an increase in the crime rate. One of the proposed changes for Portmore is to divide it into two police divisions.

Heat is a major issue in Portmore. As the number of people increases, more green spaces will be needed. One project that has been stalled many times, is the Portmore Resilience Park. The Prime Minister has given his assurance that the project will be complete this time. Aside from the resilience park, Portmore will need other green spaces.

The 2020 General Election

The 2020 General Elections, in my view, was a resounding 2/3 approval of the government’s move to make Portmore a parish. Two traditionally PNP seats flipped green. Why is this important? A key election promise by the government was to make Portmore the 15th parish.

Several things needed to be done before this move could be achieved. One of them was a Joint Select Committee and the other was consultation with the people of Portmore. MPs Robert Green and Alando Terrelonge engaged with their constituents through consultations, providing an opportunity for direct dialogue. Additionally, town hall meetings were organized, allowing residents to ask important questions and address key concerns.

Final Thoughts

Portmore will be used as a template for every modern parish that will be created in Jamaica. There are talks to make other cities into parishes and municipalities. It is important for us as a people to chart our own path and form new parishes to meet our needs. This would mark the first parish created in post-colonial Jamaica. The move to make Portmore a parish should benefit the people greatly. All the concerns raised against parish status should be noted well and can be addressed after parish status is achieved. More money funnelled into Portmore can fix road issues, create green spaces, construct a new hospital and improve public transportation. Portmore currently has 3 public health care facilities, one of which(the Greater Portmore Health Center), is set to get an upgrade.

On February 28, 2025, the senate approved the bill to make Portmore the 15th parish. Along with this announcement, the Prime Minister has assured the people of Portmore that a hospital plus several infrastructure projects will be completed. I believe that this parish move will benefit Portmore greatly, even in ways that we are currently unable to see.

Becoming a municipality marked the start of Portmore becoming self governed and parish status will finish the job.

Here are three key problems that the parish status will address:

  • Caribbean Estate, Phoenix Park 1 & 2 etc. residents can’t vote for the mayor.
  • Funneling all tax dollars collected in Portmore towards building Portmore.
  • Fixing split allegiances – Portmore Councillors will no longer need to attend the St. Catherine Municipal Corp meeting. Portmore councillors can attend St Catherine Municipal Corp meetings and still get paid while not attending Portmore Municipal Meetings.

I am looking forward to hearing your views on this debate in the comment section.

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