The Opposition People’s National Party has called for the retraction of a letter, sent by the Clerk to the Houses of Parliament, to the Electoral Commission of Jamaica, ECJ regarding  Portmore parish boundaries.

In a statement, the PNP cited improper representation and expressed concern that the letter did not convey the true decision of Parliament’s Constituency Boundaries Committee on the issue.

Spokesman for Matters relating to Portmore Fitz Jackson explained that when the committee met on April 1, it was decided that documents, such as the court ruling on Portmore, should be sent to the ECJ.

A request was also made of the ECJ to provide an update on their work by May 31.

However, he states that the letter sent by the Clerk, dated April 4, asked the ECJ to attend the committee meeting next Wednesday April 16, to provide an update, as well as to provide a report by May 31.

In reacting to the letter, the opposition members of the ECJ, through their lawyer, wrote back to Clerk Colleen Lowe, as well as to Attorney General Dr. Derrick McKoy, to highlight their concern that the instructions given to the ECJ by the clerk do not properly represent the committee’s decision.

This, they said, could potentially compromise the thoroughness of the methodology that the ECJ adopts. 

The opposition members also pointed to the potential of destroying the independence of the ECJ, both in appearance and in fact.

Mr. Jackson told Irie FM News that it was improper for the letter to go beyond what the committee agreed. 

He noted that it would also be improper for the committee to purport to impose on the ECJ a deadline by which it should complete its work. 

He also noted that the ECJ should not depart from its established processes in order to facilitate the government’s timeline.