JLP CARETAKER for the Northern Trelawny constituency Dennis Meadows has lambasted the National Works Agency (NWA) for what he describes as the lack of work being carried out on the Martha Brae to Falmouth main road.

According to Mr. Meadows, the road that is the main thoroughfare for commuters from the Martha Brae, Wakefield and Bounty Hall communities, has been closed for the past three months and work has not commenced on the project. Stephen Shaw, communications manager for customer service at the NWA, in responding to Mr. Meadows concerns, explained that the delay is due to unforeseen difficulties with the project.

- Tashieka Mair

Despite the intervention of the Church in a recent prayer vigil for peace in the Old Capital, murders continue to plague the residents who are searching for an answer as the increased police presence does not seem to be working.

In one of the latest incidents, 26-year-old Germain Smith was walking along March Pen Road on Thursday when he was pounced upon by unknown assailants who shot him several times.

He died on the spot. He was the second man to be killed in Spanish Town since the start of the week.

- Rasbert Turner

The Jamaica Teachers Associ-ation (JTA) is calling for the Government to take urgent and effective steps to eradicate lewd lyrics played on the airwaves and in public transportation, because of the negative effect such music has on the behaviour of children.

The JTA also wants legislation to be passed to make parents and guardians more accountable for their children's behaviour, failing which they should lose custody of those children. These were parts of a 26-point proposal, entitled "The Ocho Rios Declaration", which was unanimously passed by delegates at Thursday's closing. session of the JTA conference on classroom behaviour management at the Sunset Jamaica Grande in Ocho Rios, St. Ann.

- Devon Evans

The water supply system in Mandeville and surrounding communities continues to be a sore point between the Manchester Parish Council and the National Water Commission (NWC).

The parish council and the NWC have been at odds for the past ten years over the supply of water to the parish and Mandeville in particular. The town has been subjected to daily water lock-offs although residents and the business sector continue to receive what they claimed to be excessively high water bills.

- Angelo Laurence

Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) leader Bruce Golding is to deliver the keynote address at the party's North Trelawny Annual Constituency Conference at the William Knibb Memorial High School in Falmouth tomorrow.

"The conference will serve to kick start the party's campaign in the constituency for the period leading up to the general elections and will set the tone for what is expected to be a vibrant campaign," said Dennis Meadows, JLP deputy general secretary and constituency caretaker. The conference, which will begin at 1:00 p.m., will see an election for the positions of vice chairman, secretary, assistant secretary, treasurer and 25 co-opted members. Three of the co-opted members will be elected to represent the constituency on the area council.