The House of Representatives has approved the Draft Elections and Boundaries Commission Order 2024 without amendments.
The Report, laid in the Parliament in April 2024, proposes Boundary alterations for 16 Constituencies in addition to name changes for five of them.
The EBC Report recommends Boundary changes to Caroni Central, Tabaquite, Pointe-a-Pierre, Cumuto/Manzanilla, La Horquetta/Talparo, D’Abadie/O’Meara, Arouca/Maloney, Port of Spain North/St. Ann’s West, Port of Spain South, Laventille West, Laventille East/Morvant, San Fernando East, Oropouche East, San Fernando West, Toco/Sangre Grande, and Arima.
The Report also proposes that Arouca/Maloney be renamed Trincity/Maloney; D’Abadie/O’Meara to Malabar/Mausica; Lopinot/Bon Air West to Arouca/Lopinot; St. Joseph to become Aranguez/St. Joseph, and Pointe-a-Pierre renamed Claxton Bay.
During debate on the Motion in Parliament, Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley questioned the rationale behind the name changes to some Constituencies.
“I don’t know what would have caused the EBC to think that the community of Pointe-a-Pierre should disappear from the name of this constituency. I would have thought that it being Pointe-a-Pierre for the longest while and you had one Polling Division, it would still be Pointe-a-Pierre.”
The Prime Minister asked the Opposition to share his concerns about the name changes since the Parliament can make recommendations to the Draft Order.
However, Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar refused to make amendments.