Police Stations Being Built, Refurbished

The Government is undertaking refurbishing work on 10 police stations across the island, while four others are in various stages of construction.
Minister of National Security, Senator Colonel Trevor MacMillan, speaking at the opening of the Cambridge Police Station and Courthouse in St. James on Tuesday (Nov.18), said that the work being done is part of the programme to improve working conditions for members of the police force.
He informed that $150 million has been set aside to carry out the refurbishing works, and the amount, while modest, is a 50 per cent increase over the amount allocated for similar work last year.
In addition to the Cambridge station, which benefitted under the refurbishing project, work has been completed on the Golden Grove Police Station, in St. Thomas; the Constant Spring Divisional Office in Kingston; while investigative engineering work has started on the Malvern Police Station and Courthouse in St. Elizabeth.
The four police stations, which are being constructed at a cost of $180 million, are: the Bath Police Station in St. Thomas at a cost of $70 million; Alexandria in St. Ann at a cost of $35 million; Point Hill, St. Catherine and Lacovia, St. Elizabeth at a total cost of $75 million.
The Police Training Academy in Twickenham Park, St. Catherine, is also slated to be upgraded, with $400 million already approved for first phase works.
In the meantime, the National Security Minister said the Government is “actively seeking sponsorship from corporate Jamaica,” to support efforts to upgrade police stations.
He informed that “Carreras has kindly consented to donate $3 million to refurbish the Spanish Town Divisional Office, and also I must congratulate the Jamaica Public Service Company, for rebuilding the Old Harbour Police Station, both in St. Catherine.”
Minister MacMillan praised the work being carried out by the members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), while assuring the membership of Government’s commitment to do everything possible to improve their working conditions.