Ground Broken to Construct New Westmoreland Police Headquarters

Ground was, on Friday (March 15), broken in Llandilo, Savanna-la-Mar, for the construction of the new $2.17 billion Westmoreland Divisional Police Headquarters.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Security, Hon. Dr. Horace Chang, headed the officials participating in the engagement.

The three-storey building, that will span 64,970.21square feet, will be designed to accommodate specialised units and coordinate operations across the 11 police stations in Westmoreland.

The new headquarters will further integrate state-of-the-art security technologies, in alignment with the ePolicing Initiatives, and facilitate improved response times and interactions with citizens as well as enhanced police presence in the Division to promote public order.

Among the scope of works are several amenities, including a sewage treatment plant, standby power plant, fire protection facilities, elevators, guard house, parking lots, cabling infrastructure for internet and telephone connectivity, and heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems.

The project, being executed under the National Security Ministry’s ‘Project Rebuild, Overhaul, and Construct’ (ROC) initiative, forms part of efforts to bolster crime-fighting interventions in Westmoreland by developing police infrastructure, thereby addressing the growing need for effective policing services consequent on population growth and evolving criminal activities.

In his address during the ceremony, Dr. Chang emphasised the importance of investing in law enforcement and maintaining public order.

“One of the challenges facing law enforcement was that our officers were made to work in absolutely deplorable conditions across the country. They were given abandoned buildings, such as old teachers’ cottages, to occupy. In fact, there was no building of police stations,” Dr. Chang explained.

“So, in discussion with the Police Commissioner and the police staff, we realised that this was not modern policing. Policing is a profession, and like every other profession, they require facilities that reflect the demand of policing. So we set about doing it and today, under ROC, there is a standard requirement for every single repair that we do and every new station that we build,” he added.

Dr. Chang pointed out that when completed, the new Westmoreland Divisional Headquarters will be equipped with all the necessary features for efficient policing operations.

He maintained that Westmoreland is deserving of a strong and efficient police force in combating crime, and reiterated the Government’s commitment to providing the resources needed to support law enforcement efforts.

Dr. Chang also provided an update on other ongoing and planned police station projects across the country to improve the facilities.

“So far, we have built six police stations. We have some seven under construction, including this one [in Westmoreland]; and in Spanish Town, we break ground next month for another. We have also impacted 150 facilities with major repairs to make them more occupiable and accommodating to police officers,” he pointed out.

For his part, Police Commissioner, Major General Antony Anderson, welcomed the commencement of work to construct the new facility, noting that it would elevate the level of service provided to the citizens of Westmoreland and improve working conditions for officers.

He acknowledged the dedication of the Westmoreland divisional team and expressed optimism for the future impact of the new headquarters.

Resident, Shekeria Johnson, hailed the development as long overdue, citing the deplorable conditions in which police officers previously worked.

She expressed hope that the new headquarters would contribute to improved crime-fighting efforts across Westmoreland.