Hylton confident court will overturn Portmore parish bill

The People's National Party’s (PNP) legal advisor, Anthony Hylton, has declared that the bill passed in both Houses of Parliament to designate Portmore as Jamaica’s 15th parish was "conceived in inequity" and will be overturned through legal action.

Speaking at a PNP rally held at the Portmore Community College on Sunday to protest the move, Hylton made it clear that the opposition party is prepared to challenge the government’s decision in court.

"The bill was conceived in inequity and therefore nothing good will come out of it," he asserted, reinforcing the PNP’s stance that the legislation is flawed and unconstitutional.

Hylton emphasised that the PNP sees it as its duty to safeguard the rights of the people and uphold Jamaica’s Constitution.

"We have demonstrated that when it comes to the Constitution we are prepared to fight and to protect the Constitution."

According to Hylton, the government’s actions in the move to confer parish status on Portmore have violated the Constitution, marking what he said is yet another instance of legal overreach by the government.

"The PNP is clear that the fight is not just a political one but a legal one," he stated, signalling that the party is prepared to take the matter beyond public discourse and into the courts.

Using a well-known Jamaican proverb, Hylton warned the government of the impending legal battle:

"Soon and very soon they will know where water walk go a pumpkin belly."

While he refrained from outlining specific legal strategies at the rally, Hylton was clear that legal action is imminent.

"As the sun rise in the east and set in the west they will be sued for their illegal conduct, dem can't take it back, and we can't trust dem so we have to make the court tell them that what they are up to is no good," he said.

Hylton also accused the government of attempting to exploit the people of St. Catherine through the move.

"It is clear that the purpose of the whole scheme is to scam the people of St Catherine," he asserted.

The PNP has strongly opposed the government's push to elevate Portmore to parish status, arguing that the decision was made without adequate consultation and is politically motivated.

- Ruddy Mathison

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