Hylton wants Gov’t to alleviate misery of New Haven residents

Longstanding member of parliament (MP) for St Andrew Western, Anthony Hylton, has blamed successive administrations for the recurring nightmare experienced by residents of New Haven in his constituency.

Hylton, who has been the parliamentary representative since 2007, said many of the original homeowners in the communities fled homes after "successive governments failed to control the silting of the Duhaney River as it floods communities in its path".

Residents of New Haven, which is situated on the outskirts of Duhaney Park, often watch in horror as murky floodwaters wade into their homes, damaging their furniture and offloading water-borne illnesses.

Speaking during the State of the Constituency Debate in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, Hylton said that "undersized and poorly maintained system of drains cannot empty the run-off into the river, which overflows its banks continually due to siltation".

The MP said the situation is exacerbated by the "poorly designed bridge at Six Miles, which blocks the flow of water from the Duhaney River and the main gully, which drains Duhaney Park and Patrick City". In addition, Hylton said the recent construction by China Harbour on the Mandela Highway and at the overpass/bridge has further worsened the flooding situation.

"The lives of the people of New Haven are severally disrupted whenever there is sustained rainfall anywhere in the catchment areas," the MP said as he called for urgent action to alleviate the misery of the people of New Haven and its environs.