Legislation to Grant Portmore Parish Status Tabled

The Counties and Parishes (Amendment) Act, 2025, which seeks to grant parish status to the Portmore City Municipality, making it the 15th parish of Jamaica, was tabled in the House of Representatives on Tuesday (January 28).

The legislation was tabled by Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie.

As stated in the Memorandum of Objects and Reasons, the Bill represents a historic milestone, as it will be the first time that a parish is being established in post-colonial Jamaica.

“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,” the document said.

Also of necessity, consequential amendments are being made to the Local Governance Act and the Town and Country Planning (Municipality of Portmore) Provisional Development Order, 2018 (modified and confirmed by the Town and Country Planning (Municipality of Portmore) Provisional Development Order, 2018 (Confirmation) Notification, 2024), in order to recognise the change in status of the Municipality.