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Sections of the Sandy Gully in Seaview Gardens, Kingston 11, could be easily mistaken for a densely forested area.

Enormous trees, as well as overgrown shrubs with mountains of silt have blocked the free flow of water. The residents said that, thankfully, that section of the gully has not overflowed its banks, but they would be highly appreciative if it is cleaned.

"The gully never come over on the road no matter how it rise high, but we would want it clean because the trees dem big in deh. We know say it expensive but a donkey years ago it clean. From mi deh primary school the gully clean and mi is a good good adult now. When it clean, we can stay here suh and see over Riverton but now a bare big tree weh need power saw to cut," one woman said.

Forecasters with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are expecting an above-normal 2025 Atlantic hurricane season, with 13 to 19 named storms, and six to 10 of those becoming hurricanes. One male resident told THE STAR that while no hurricane has never caused any major flooding within that particular section of Seaview Gardens, he is worried that one day the Sandy Gully could change course. He also pointed fingers at some members in his community who he said constantly dump their garbage in the gully.

"Mi wish mi coulda prison di people dem weh a throw garbage in the gully. We tired fi clean it and suh we clean a spot, a so dem dump it up. Oh god man, sometimes the place stink, but it's like people nuh business. Sometimes the rubbish truck just leave the scheme and right after dat yuh see people a carry out all type a garbage come throw," the man said.

Blame is also being thrown on those living in upper St Andrew, who some residents accused of sending their garbage to the inner city.

"Uptown people nasty when dem ready and mi wonder if garbage collectors nuh come their side. Some a Seaview people dem guilty too eno because a nuff time mi see dem with my own eyes how dem just come dash off dem old furniture, dead dog and cat dem in the gully. But, the people dem uptown nasty and always a send down dem old fridge and sofa and whatever else dem feel to send down here. Uno fi stop it because a nastiness dat," a woman said.

Member of Parliament for St Andrew Western, Anthony Hylton, said he has been advocating for the cleaning of Sandy Gully for the past five years.

"Since then, the situation has worsened in that the walls and base of the gully upstream have been severely damaged. Only this year a sum of money has finally been allocated to begin the much needed work. This however is a multi- billion dollar and multi-year project," he said.

"Meanwhile, I have got the support of an international body along with the GraceKennedy Foundation to begin to clean the mouth of the Sandy Gully and the Balmagie Gully [which is adjacent to Christ the Reedemer Church], to enhance the flow of water in those gullies and to remove plastic bottles," Hylton added.

Speaking in the Sectoral Debate last week in the House of Representatives, Minister with responsibility for Works Robert Morgan, said that approximately $2 billion has been allocated for comprehensive gully works. A significant portion of that will be directed toward works on the Sandy Gully and its tributaries.