A Pembroke MP said he will work closely with both parents and community groups from Fenton's Drive and Curving Avenue in an attempt to help a group of young men who neighbours say are disrupting the neighbourhood.

Some residents, who live near the St. Augustine's Church, have called for more Police patrols because they say the young men, who call themselves the White Wall Crew, hang out on a wall near the church selling drugs openly and making a lot of noise.

The men deny these accusations and say that they are the victims of Government's neglect because they are black and live in the "back of town.'' Nevertheless, a few of the neighbours have written expressing their concerns to PLP MP Mr. Stanley Morton.

Initially Mr. Morton said he favoured going directly to the young men, but after consulting with his party during a recent caucus meeting he has modified his original strategy.

"I had planned to go right up there and meet them where they are, but now I will try to set up meetings with community groups and parents first.

One group Reclaiming Our Community is high on Mr. Morton's list. It is based in Fenton's Drive, and it has called on both Government and the private sector to provide jobs for the young men.

Mr. Lou Matthews, who is a teacher at the Berkeley Institute and lives in one of the prefabricated units behind the church, is a member of the group.

Already they have successfully found jobs for two of the young men who hang out on the wall and they are in the midst of setting up a GED programme to help those who have dropped out of school.

Mr. Morton said that he was in the midst of setting up a meeting with Mr.

Matthews and parents.

"I want to seek their collective wisdom,'' Mr. Morton continued. "There are some deep-seated sociological problems here and I agree that my original direct approach would be not the best way.

"I will meet with Lou (Matthews) and the parents to see if we can't face this problem head on.

"We are interested in providing alternatives to hanging out. We want to provide guidance to these men showing them ways to start legitimate businesses and learn about computers if they want it.

"Our aim is not to talk down to them but we will adopt a stance of sharing information and offers of help.''