Minister of Rural Development and Local Government Khadijah Ameen has rejected claims that the municipal boundaries review process is politically driven.
Responding to comments from the Political Leader of the PNM, Minister Ameen described the assertions as false and misleading, stressing that the committee is neither a UNC body nor chaired by a Government Minister.
She explained that the review committee was appointed by Cabinet and is led by a retired senior technocrat with decades of experience in town and country planning and no current political affiliation.
Minister Ameen said it is irresponsible to portray a technical and evidence-based process as partisan, warning that such claims undermine public confidence.
She also clarified that municipal boundaries are set by Acts of Parliament, while electoral boundaries fall under the Elections and Boundaries Commission—two separate legal frameworks.
The Minister added that long-standing calls for restructuring oversized municipal corporations have come from business groups, civil society and members of the opposition, and consultations on the review are already under way.
