( L - R ) Lyn, Shaw

Byron McDaniel, Gleaner Writer

The constituency of North East Manchester consists mainly of hilly terrain, which at its highest rises to 3,200 feet at Pike, near to the northern border.

It is bordered on the east by North West Clarendon at Spaldings, in the west by North West Manchester, and in the south by Central Manchester. It has an estimated population of 60,000.

A predominantly farming area, the constituency produces mainly yams, sweet and Irish potatoes, coffee, ginger, and bananas.

Other sources of income are the bauxite industry, transport operations, artisan skills and business operations.

There is an impressive cadre of highly educated professionals in the constituency and there is only a small population of vagrants. This, of course, has meant there is a relativelylow crime rate.

There are 21,755 electors on the latest updated voters list, with the voting pattern tilted towards the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP).

There are three parish council divisions in the constituency: Christiana held by the Mayor of Mandeville Desmond Harrison; Craig Head held by Barrington Miller, a school teacher and Walderston held by Leroy Mitchell, a mechanic.

Trained candidates

The Member of Parliament is Audley Shaw, a deputy leader of the Jamaica Labour Party, who is up against the People's National Party's (PNP) 39-year-old London-trained chartered accountant, Paul Lyn, a newcomer to representational politics.

The constituency needs more farm roads, at least one housing scheme for young professionals leaving tertiary institutions and an expanded supply of piped water (which is under way).

Rev. Vernon W. Scott points to issues like poor roads as one of the constituency's challenges, but says he notices improvements.

"Some roads in Christiana have been in bad condition for the last two year good attempts have been made to repair some. The road from Christiana to Limit has not been touched. What is good is that water supply from Alston has been linked to the Christiana source," said Rev. Scott.

There are three health clinics in the constituency and the Percy Junor hospital; however, there is a need for more factories to create employment.

"Unemployment is a problem. Farming, doesn't attract the new breed of youngsters. There are lots of idlers and praedial larceny is high," said a senior citizen.

Roy Collins, a bus driver from Walderston, agrees: "More jobs are needed, some farm roads are poor and crime, mostly praedial larceny, is prevalent," he said.