Residents of Portmore in St Catherine and other stakeholders are to receive a new opportunity to have their voices heard in the discussion around a proposal to make that municipality Jamaica’s 15th parish.

In a release from Gordon House, the joint select committee of Parliament considering the proposal said it would host two virtual town hall meetings on July 22 and July 29.

“The town hall meetings, which are being held in partnership with the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, are to facilitate the input of the residents of Portmore and other vital stakeholders,” the Gordon House release read.

The virtual town hall meetings will be held using the Zoom virtual platform and persons wishing to participate are to register on the Parliament’s website, www.japarliament.gov.jm.

Members of the public will also be able follow on the PBC Jamaica or Jamaica Information Service YouTube
and Facebook pages and make their comments using the chat functions on those pages.

The committee had previously received submissions from public and private sector stakeholders.

However, the town hall consultations will allow members of the public additional access to the committee.

Parliamentarian Dr Andrew Wheatley, who is chairing the committee, stated that the consultations were not
only necessary but critical to the committee’s deliberations.

According to Wheatley: “Community engagement is a critical component of the governance process. Consultation is key, particularly as our committee considers the proposal to name Portmore as Jamaica’s 15th parish. This would be a significant milestone for our country and we as a committee feel that for the process to be more meaningful it must be transparent and inclusive. As a committee, we are encouraging persons to participate in this exercise.”

Representatives from the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, the Ministry of Health and Wellness, the Ministry of Transport and Mining, the National Environment Planning Agency, the National Works Agency and the National Water Commission are expected to serve as resource personnel for the events.