Opposition Spokesman with responsibility for matters concerning Portmore, Fitz Jackson, is appealing to citizens not to sit and allow Portmore to become the country’s fifteenth parish.

On Tuesday, the governing Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) used its majority in the Lower House to pass the bill.

Twenty-eight Members of Parliament (MPs) in the House of Representatives voted for the act to amend the Counties and Parishes Act to declare the city municipality of Portmore the fifteenth parish of Jamaica.

Ten MPs voted against it, while 24 were absent.

The People’s National Party (PNP) has objected to the bill and says it will go to court and take to the streets if the bill becomes law.

The bill will next go to the Upper House for deliberation.

Speaking during a press conference today, Mr. Jackson said the people of Portmore are not pleased with the passage of the bill in the Lower House

Local Government Minister Desmond McKenzie says the Andrew Holness-led administration is standing firm on its commitment to make Portmore Jamaica’s 15th parish.

During a press conference today, Mr. McKenzie claimed that the People’s National Party’s objection to the bill to make Portmore a parish is influenced by politics.

Meantime, today’s meeting of the St. Catherine Municipal Corporation ended early due to concerns over the passage of the bill to make Portmore Jamaica’s 15th parish.

The bill was passed in the Lower House on Tuesday.

It will be deliberated in the Senate.

Speaking with IRIE FM News this morning, Chairman of the St. Catherine Municipal Corporation and Spanish Town Mayor Norman Scott confirmed that today’s council meeting was suspended because PNP councillors are upset over the passage of the bill in the Lower House.

He said the councillors have decided to issue a statement on the matter.

Minority Leader at the St. Catherine Municipal Corporation, the JLP’s Theresa Turner-Flynn, has described the suspension of today’s council meeting as unfortunate.

She said the JLP councillors were looking forward to the meeting