Portmore residents want popular mall for parish capital

While expressing readiness for Portmore to be elevated to parish status, some residents of the municipality believe that the green light should not be fully given without the instalment of basic necessities such as a public hospital or a market.

Some also believe that the Portmore Mall should be named as the capital of the new parish when the time comes. The House of Representatives on Tuesday approved a motion to establish Portmore as Jamaica's 15th parish, following the conclusion of a debate on the Report of the Joint Select Committee which considered the motion. THE STAR ventured yesterday to Ackee Village, a popular spot for food provisions in the municipality, where some persons gave their opinions on the impending change. Noel Bethlue, who has been vending at the spot for a little more than two decades, says this is a major uplifting move.

"Portmore big enough for a parish man. We just need a hospital. Is a good move dem make because this means more job opportunities for people. The people dem over here support us a lot so although I am not living here, I am really happy for them," he said as he peeled a roast breadfruit for a customer. Similar sentiments were echoed by Lindsay, another vendor, who said that the parish status was long overdue.

"The shopping centre is where everybody go, so right dere suh would have to be the capital. Mi happy it a get di status. A long time it shoulda happen still but nutten happen before the time still. All if yuh nuh know Portmore, everyone know where the mall is," Lindsay said.

This will be the first time since 1867 that a new parish is being created. Member of Parliament for St Catherine South Central, Dr Andrew Wheatley, who chaired the joint select committee, promised that the necessary upgrade to the infrastructure, including a hospital, would be set in place over time. Although he hails from Linstead in St Catherine, fruit vendor Gabriel Wood says he is excited for Portmore and welcomes the new title.

"Mi feel good about it because Portmore big bad and di people dem buy from mi. for the past four years, mi leave Linstead and come here suh and sell so with it being a parish it ago mean say a more business because the place ago build up. Right outa mall mi think ago be di capital because once yuh think Portmore, yuh think the mall," he said.

A resident of Braeton said he will not be super excited about the motion until the basic necessities are in place.

"A parish has to have a hospital suh nutten can't guh so. We need a market and another fire station because a only one we have and it deh a yonder. Right ya now if we sick, we have to cross the bridge or take the journey to Spanish Town. Portmore being a parish would be a good thing but I am not too excited because I think it is politically motivated. You can't a focus on parish and nah focus on the crime whe a gwan a Braeton," the resident said.