Member of Parliament (MP) for St Andrew Western Anthony Hylton has hailed a number of partnerships involving residents, business interests and himself as MP, for resolving longstanding and potentially-volatile problems in the constituency.

During his contribution to the State of the Constituency Debate in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, Hylton beamed with pride when he shared that in Riverton Meadows, “the skeptics said a legal electricity programme would fail for lack of community support”.

“They were wrong,” he said.

The veteran MP, who is also the Opposition spokesman on industry, investment and commerce, said that, “With the help of the JPS Foundation, the Jamaica Social Investment Fund and the community itself, we brought legal, metered electricity to some 400 households”.

He said more than 85 per cent converted, and non-technical losses fell below 15 per cent.

“That is what happens when you put a little faith, some resources and genuine partnership behind people who want to do the right thing,” said Hylton.

On another matter involving collaboration, Hylton shared that in the Waterhouse division, a dispute over the White Lane playfield had every ingredient for confrontation and litigation: “an investor seeking to expand, and a community determined not to lose the field that had anchored it for generations”.

That playfield located at the corner of Henley Road and Spanish Town Road in the vicinity of Wray and Nephew Limited has now been transformed into a commercial complex, complete with a service station.

Negotiating on behalf of the community, Hylton said: “Instead of a courtroom, we chose a conversation. And I place on record my appreciation to FESCO for leading that partnership. The result: a state-of-the-art scrimmage football field for our young people, a computer room and homework centre, jobs for community youth, and now a much needed pharmacy and food court outlet”.

This, said Hylton, is evidence that enterprise and community need not be adversaries. He said that same spirit produced a second agreement with Red Stripe and Zouki Trucking, to train young people from St Andrew Western and neighbouring constituencies in forklift operation, articulated truck driving and logistics operations.

“I thank both companies. These are skilled, in-demand jobs, and demand is rising as new and expanding businesses set up at the Ferry Industrial Park, right here in our constituency,” he said.

– Lynford Simpson