PORT MARIA, St Mary: PNP councillors in the St Mary Parish Council on Thursday lashed out against council chairman, Richard Creary, and his JLP counterparts, accusing them of political victimisation, and failing to adequately inform them about the four-day Commonwealth Local Government Conference in the Bahamas.

"We were only informed by the media as to the nature of this meeting, and that it would be a local government conference. I think this shows gross disrespect to us as members," declared a fiery Bruce Pharrell, councillor for the Oracabessa division.

Currently, the JLP holds ten of the thirteen seats in the St Mary Parish Council.

Mayor Richard Creary, along with deputy mayor and fellow JLP counterpart, Barton Oliver, were absent from the meeting.

Pharrell said that he has also been made to question the rationale behind the selection of the councillors to attend the conference. "Given the fact that those selected are seasoned and experienced councillors who have been serving the council for many years, why is it that the less experienced councillors weren't selected instead? I think this is a travesty and political victimisation and it needs to stop," declared Pharrell.

He quoted state minister for local government, Robert Montague, as saying that the councillors would have learnt more coming out of the four-day conference than they would in four years and said, "If those councillors who have been serving - many of them for six years - do not know all that they should have by now then it is only fair that other councillors be given a chance."

- Nedburn Thaffe

Councillor calls for investigation in unfair fertiliser distribution

BLACK RIVER, St Elizabeth:

Councillor for the Ipswich division in North West St Elizabeth, Errol Hummingbird, has called on the Ministry of Agriculture to immediately intervene and investigate the reported unfair distribution of fertiliser.

The outspoken councillor made the call during a recent meeting of the St Elizabeth Parish Council where hestrongly condemned the state agency, the Rural Agricultural Development Authority ( RADA).

His outburst sparked an uproar in meeting and Mayor Jeremy Palmer ordered the councillor to withdraw his statement. After much shouting, the councillor apologised for his comments.

However, Councillor Hummingbird contended that RADA was a biased organisation because fertilisers are being distributed "on political grounds".

He was forcefully supported by his PNP colleague who accused RADA of political bias in the allocation of resources.

"I have only received one bag of fertiliser from Mr Frank Witter MP for South West, and it's because he is my friend," declared the PNP's Donovan Pagon.

- Michael McLean

Ocho Rios High students remanded

OCHO RIOS, St Ann:

The three young men accused of the murder of former Ocho Rios High School student, 17-year-old Zaire Jones, were remanded when they appeared in the St Ann's Bay Resident Magistrate's court on Thursday.

The three, 18-year-old Renardo Williams of Top Milford, and two 17-year-olds, one from Ocho Rios and the other form Discovery Bay, are to return to court on Tuesday, May 26.

Jones, a grade-11 student, was stabbed to death shortly after noon on April 23, following an argument with a group of boys along Milford Road in Ocho Rios.

Reports are that Jones was attacked after demands by the boys to hand over his cellphone were not met.

He was stabbed several times and later died in the St Ann's Bay Hospital.

Some students speculate that Jones, who was a member of the school's cadet corps, may have been attacked in reprisal for refusing entry to three students at the school who refused to pay the $50 entry fee to a concert held at the school.

- Carl Gilchrist

PM leads team to host public meetings

MANDEVILLE, Manchester:

Prime Minister Bruce Golding will head a team of government officials who will be going to Mandeville on Tuesday, May 19, for the first in a series of town-hall meetings designed to encourage direct dialogue between Government and members of the public.

The Mandeville Town Hall meeting is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. at the Golf View Hotel, 5 Caledonia Road.

Residents of Mandeville and surrounding areas will get to hear the Government's position on current national issues, including those related to the recent Budget Debate. They will also be given opportunity to air their views, ask questions and make recommendations on matters that directly affect them. High on the agenda for discussion will be the problems of the bauxite industry, the prospects for greenhouse farming and the state of water supply within the area.

Prime Minister Golding will be joined by the Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Audley Shaw and the Minister of Energy and Mining, James Robertson. Other Ministers who will be in attendance are the Minister with responsibility for Information and Telecommunications in the Office of the Prime Minister, Daryl Vaz; and Minister of Education, Andrew Holness.

- JIS