Anthony Hylton, Member of Parliament for St Andrew Western, is lamenting the ongoing flooding experienced by residents in the New Haven community in Duhaney Park, St Andrew, and its environs, and is calling for urgent action from the government to alleviate the misery of the people.

He made the plea during his contribution to the sectoral debate in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, 3rd December.

The MP argued that the issue currently being experienced by New Haven residents is a result of successive governments failing to control the silting of the Duhaney River.

“Madam Speaker, though not as storied as the Duhaney Park Community or having the same formal development, the New Haven community has been much maligned and mischara

cterised by persons ignorant of its antecedents and a proud history of land and home ownership. Many of these original homeowners fled their land many years ago, as successive governments failed to control the silting of the Duhaney River as it floods communities in its path on the way to Hunts Bay, via Riverton and Six Miles,” he said.

Hylton noted that this has resulted in flooding of the New Haven community whenever it rains, as the undersized and poorly maintained system of drains cannot empty the runoff into the river, which overflows its banks continually due to siltation.

“The situation is exacerbated by the poorly designed bridge/overpass at Six Miles, which blocks the flow of water from the Duhaney River and the main gully that drains Duhaney Park and Patrick City in the adjoining North-Western St Andrew constituency. These bodies of water converge at the Six Miles bridge/overpass,” he added.

Additionally, the MP said the recent construction by China Harbour on the Mandela Highway and at the overpass/bridge has further worsened the flooding situation, with neither the National Works Agency (NWA) nor the National Water Commission taking responsibility.

“The lives of the people of New Haven are severely disrupted whenever there is sustained rainfall anywhere in the catchment areas. I again place on the record of this Parliament the urgent need for the government to act to alleviate the misery of the people of New Haven and its environs,” Hylton said.

Similarly, the MP called for the government to act swiftly to avoid an imminent threat posed to the communities such as Seaview Gardens, Waterhouse, and Washington Garden adjoining the Sandy Gully when the floodwaters breach the gully walls.

“Madam Speaker, the records of this House will accurately reflect my several urgent appeals to the government to act boldly to avoid the catastrophic impact of what I called the “Grey Rhinoceros” heading towards the Sandy Gully, a metaphor for the imminent threat posed to the communities adjoining the gully, when the flood waters breach the gully walls. Madam speaker, the walls of the gully have now been breached, and the community residents are now living in fear for their lives and property,” Hylton.