Residents of Central Kingston demonstrate outside the Electoral Commission of Jamaica on Duke Street in Kingston yesterday.- Norman Grindley/Chief Photographer

Less than 48 hours after Central Kingston Member of Parliament Ronald Thwaites urged the Electoral Commission of Jamaica (ECJ) not to abolish his constituency, residents of the area took to the streets to support his call.

"Leave Central Kingston alone, leave Central Kingston alone," the protesters chanted as they demonstrated in front of the Electoral Office of Jamaica in downtown Kingston yesterday.

"Them want to take away Central Kingston, put half in west Kingston and half in east Kingston (and Port Royal) and we say no to that. If them want three more constituencies, there is no reason for them to cut out Central Kingston," one protester argued.

support from constituency

He was supported by scores of others, all from the People's National Party (PNP)-controlled sections of the constituency.

"Central Kingston was on of the 32 constituencies which launched Adult Suffrage in 1944 and now you have 60 constituencies and they want to take out one. Central Kingston should not be touched," an elderly protester argued.

For most of the past month, speculation has been rife that the ECJ is planning to abolish the Central Kingston constituency while creating two new seats in St Catherine, one in St James and another in Westmoreland.

reports not confirmed

This would fulfil the plan to create 63 constituencies before the next general election.

The ECJ has not confirmed the reports instead announcing that it will indicate the changes shortly.

But that did not stop Thwaites from using his presentation in the Sectoral Debate to issue a warning to the electoral officials.

"I urge those in authority not to disturb the constituency boundaries because if they do, they are going to break up communities and the blood, the real human blood, will be on their heads," Thwaites declared.

arthur.hall@gleanerjm.com