Land Identified To Build State-Of-The-Art Correctional Facility

The Government has identified land in St. Catherine to construct a state-of-the-art correctional facility.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Security, Hon. Dr. Horace Chang, says the Sugar Corporation of Jamaica has been “quite generous” in providing approximately 300 acres, “so that we can build a proper modern [facility].”

He was responding to questions during Tuesday’s (March 1) meeting of the Standing Finance Committee of the House of Representatives, whose members are deliberating the 2022/23 Estimates of Expenditure.

Dr. Chang said construction of a section of the new facility is slated to start in fiscal year 2022/23, noting that this area is intended to house high security inmates.

“We have examined what is required and have the [Jamaica Defence Force] engineering [division] doing the design work,” he further indicated.

The Minister advised that personnel will be recruited and trained to monitor and manage that section “until we get [work on] the whole facility going.”

Meanwhile, Dr. Chang said work will continue to boost the security infrastructure. These include construction of the new $700 million divisional headquarters in Westmoreland, islandwide implementation of the electronic ticketing management system, expansion of Jamaica Eye and other cyber security projects, including a cyber school.

He also indicated that the Jamaica Constabulary Force continues to boost its complement of personnel through recruitment.

“We will do about 1,250 this year and by the end of March and next year we will do 1,500, which is the number we want to work with going forward,” he stated.

Dr. Chang reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to funding the security forces and the security architecture as part of efforts to restore citizen safety and public order.