Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Security, the Hon. Dr. Horace Chang says the renovation and construction of police facilities in Montego Bay will be fast-tracked.
Minister Chang emphasised this while touring several police facilities in Montego Bay yesterday (March 16) with outgoing Commissioner of Police, Major General Antony Anderson, Commissioner-designate, Dr. Kevin Blake and Chief Technical Director, Delroy Simpson.
He stated that “we are evaluating the state of these police facilities and taking stock of the conditions in view of doing some significant work”.
The facilities visited include Freeport, Barnett Street and Coral Gardens Police Stations, the former Area 1 Headquarters on Sewell Avenue as well as the proposed site for the Specialised Operations, West Police facility.
While visiting the Freeport Police Station, the Security Minister noted that “there is of course the need to refurbish the barracks here” and announced that a general upgrade of the facility is in the works. When completed, it will house up to 200 officers and eliminate the need to provide accommodation for police personnel at private facilities across the parish. He further added that the Ministry of National Security has prioritised “taking the steps to ensure that the men and women in this service have proper facilities to operate from.”
The Security Minister also announced the impending construction of the new Specialised Operations, West Police facility in Montego Hills, at a projected cost of $7 billion.
The engineering and architectural designs are at an advanced stage of completion and will be submitted to the planning authorities for approval within weeks.
Following the completion of the public investments, building approval and procurement processes, it is expected that ground-breaking will take place by the end of the upcoming fiscal year.
This new highly advanced, strategically located operational base will house some 500 officers and serve as a central hub from which the Jamaica Constabulary Force can better deploy assets to engage with residents and the business community more effectively.
Minister Chang reiterated that “it is important that the services offered by the police meet the demand of the growth in Montego Bay”.
While looking at the wider St. James Division, he also added that the plans to rebuild the Granville and Amity Hall Police Stations are well advanced and construction is set to begin at the end of the new fiscal year.
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