Anthony Hylton, the member of parliament (MP) for Western St Andrew, is calling on the Government to take immediate action to avert a potential disaster in several communities within his constituency.

According to Hylton in a statement on Thursday, November 23, the areas under imminent threat include Waterhouse, Seaview Gardens, Riverton Meadows, and New Haven, where the persistent risk of flooding demands urgent corrective measures.

“These are not issues to be taken lightly as the hurricane season is not yet over and adverse weather systems are still active in the Caribbean,” he said.

He underscored that last week’s heavy rains breached the Sandy Gully in St Andrew and the threat to Waterhouse, Seaview Gardens, Riverton Meadows and the commercial areas is now heightened.

He also noted that the lack of dredging of the Duhaney and Fresh rivers is also worsening conditions in New Haven.

“The problem is even worsened by the blocked culverts at Six Miles, threatening many homes in that community,” he said.

The MP, who expressed disappointment with the lack of response from responsible government agencies, noted that the cost to clean the gully far would be much lower than the potential disaster, loss of lives, and health risks.

Hylton further noted that this call for immediate action resonates not only as a matter of public safety, but also as a crucial responsibility to safeguard the well-being and livelihoods in the affected communities.