People’s National Party (PNP) caretaker for Westmoreland Western, Ian Hayles is rebutting recent statements by representatives of the ruling Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) who dismissed his call for urgent drain cleaning in the constituency as “political mischief”.

In a press release Friday, Hayles labelled the accusations as baseless deflections, shifting attention away from the JLP and the sitting Member of Parliament Moreland Wilson’s “failure to address longstanding infrastructural neglect.”

According to Hayles, “The drains in Bathhouse are still significantly blocked, with only partial brushing done on one side of the road.
“In Egypt Gardens and McNeil Land, the situation is equally dire. These half-hearted efforts have left residents exposed to severe flooding risks,” he said.

Hayles also criticised the track record of the sitting JLP representatives.
“For eight years, the councillor has represented the Sheffield Division, yet the people have seen no real improvements. Similarly, the Councillor for Little London Division has neglected Egypt Gardens, offering words instead of action,” he claimed.

In his video response, Hayles said, “The drains in Bathhouse, McNeil Land, and Egypt Gardens are still clogged. I urge the public to look at these areas and decide who is telling the truth and who is truly advocating for them.”
Dismissing claims of political opportunism, Hayles sought to clarify that his initial press release was “not about politics”, but a proactive effort to prevent potential disaster.

“This is not about politics. It’s about protecting the lives and properties of the people of Western Westmoreland. We must act now—waiting until floodwaters rise is not an option,” he said.

The call comes a little over a week after rain from Tropical Storm Rafael flooded sections of the parish making them impassable.