PORT MARIA, St. Mary

Since the closing for repairs of the Westmoreland Bridge, the main gateway to Highgate and surrounding districts, numerous problems have surfaced for residents. Motorists and commuters are particularly hard hit.

The alternative route not only increases travel time by over an hour, because of the bad road conditions, but is also costing commuters more. This, as taxi drivers have increased their fares by as much as $50.

"Dem raise the fare too high and me no budget my money fi pay no extra $50 per day," said a nurse who works at the Annotto Bay hospital and who travels to Highgate daily.

WALDERSTON, Manchester

Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller created suspense and fervour in Spaldings, Clarendon, on Sunday night, when she told thousands of supporters of her monopoly in setting an election date.

The Prime Minister, who was addressing a record crowd of the North-West Clarendon conference, defended her frequent trips abroad as being necessary for the economic growth of the country. She said that despite the criticism of detractors, an election victory "is nigh" and they should face this period with unity, optimism and discipline.

MANDEVILLE, Manchester

The Manchester Homecoming Foundation is in high gear preparing for this year's homecoming activities slated for late October.

The celebration, which has become an annual affair, while similar in some aspects to that of its sister parish, St. Elizabeth, is unique in its own way, according to chairman of the foundation Dr. Gilbert Allen.

In its fifth year, the celebration seeks to not only bring together persons from the parish, but to also honour those who have contributed positively to nation building and, in particular, the parish of Manchester. This year's activities, which will take place over a three-day period, will include cultural displays, the honouring of a number of persons with roots in the parish, culminating with a banquet at a venue to be named.

-Angelo Laurence

BLACK RIVER, St. Elizabeth

A total of $3.4 million has been allocated to rehabilitate the Hodges Land road in South-West, St. Elizabeth.

Work on the road will be undertaken by the technical team of the St. Elizabeth Parish Council, along with contractors in the parish.

Speaking in an interview with The Gleaner on Wednesday, Kenroy Stewart, superintendent of roads and works, said the council has the authority to spend $2 million of the money, while the Ministry of Local Government will spend the remaining $1.4 million.

"The main scope of the work which will begin in two weeks time, includes rehabilitation and drainage construction," Stewart said.

-Rayon Dyer

MANDEVILLE, Manchester

Former communications officer at the National Works Agency, Vando Palmer, was formally handed the People's National Party's (PNP's) baton for central Manchester by Member of Parliament John Junor.

Mr. Junor, who has represented the constituency since 1989, serving as minister of Government in both the Michael Manley and P.J. Patterson administrations, served notice from early last year that he will be leaving representational politics at the end of his current term.

The handover took place at the PNP's conference for the constituency at the Manchester High School on Sunday, with party president, Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller and General Secretary Colin Campbell and others embracing the move to the thunderous applause of the more than 1,000 party supporters in attendance.

-Angelo Laurence