By Clive Simpson, Freelance WriterWESTERN BUREAU:
THE PROMISED new police divisional headquarters for Trelawny, which is expected to replace the existing offices and living quarters located on Rodney Street, in Falmouth, seems poised to become a reality soon.
Following the recent heavy rains which threatened to flood out the police officers at the old dilapidated building, Anthony Ramdatt, the project officer in the Ministry of National Security, told senior cops in the division and at the Area One Headquarters that the blueprint for the new building is now ready for inspection.
The need to replace the derelict building, in which Superintendent Jasmine Brown and her hard-working team of policemen and women are now working, was identified long ago.
Prior to demitting office, K.D. Knight, the former Minister of National Security and Justice, announced plans for the construction of a new police headquarters in Trelawny. However, those plans were subsequently put on the backburner by his successor Dr. Peter Phillips, whose focus has been primarily on tackling crime and violence in the wider society.
However, with the recent heavy rains creating so much misery for Superintendent Brown and her team, the need for Dr. Phillips to reactivate the building plans for the new headquarters has once again become glaring.
It is anticipated that once the senior officers in the division and at the hierarchy at Area One Headquarters give the blueprint their nod of approval, plans will be put into high gear to expedite the procedures to start construction.
At the Rio Bueno Police Station, which is located near the Trelawny/St. Ann border, where the policemen and women are also faced with poor conditions, Minister Phillips has ordered the relocation of police personnel as soon as alternative accommodations are found.
The facility housing the Rio Bueno Police Station has all but fallen apart and is an eyesore. Whenever it rains the building is like a sieve and in addition, the bathroom cannot be used because the roof has caved in.
The physical state of other police stations in the parish is said to be satisfactory. However, the Stewart Town and Wakefield stations are both in need of security fencing.
