IAN ALLEN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
The old Jamintel building, downtown Kingston, which will house the offices of the Commissioner of Police and his staff.
Robert Lalah, Staff Reporter
The proposed move of the police commissioner's office to downtown Kingston, has sparked mixed reactions from residents of the area.
While speaking at the ongoing Cabinet retreat in St. Mary, Prime Minister P.J. Patterson gave instructions for the completion within four weeks, of a modern police headquarters to house the commissioner and his principal officers.
The new location of the police headquarters will be the former Jamintel building which sits at the corner of Duke and North streets in downtown Kingston.
Yesterday, The Gleaner went downtown to find out how residents felt about the commissioner coming to town.
more order
"A good thing that. It will bring more order and justice to the area," said Mickey, a resident of Fletcher's Land. He said he expected the presence of the commissioner's office to help curb crime in the area.
But 70-year-old Victor Williams disagreed. "It not going to be safe. Whenever the gunman dem get upset dem ago attack di building. It just ago bring more conflict," he said.
But Kingston Mayor Desmond McKenzie was emphatic as he explained why he felt that moving the commissioner's office to downtown was a good idea.
"This is a very significant move. It is a welcome return and I am sure that it will invigorate and bring some life back to downtown Kingston,"
he said.
"Government is the largest owner of real estate downtown, yet the Government has moved many of its offices to more opulent areas in New Kingston, paying high rent," the mayor added. "I welcome the news and will do all I can to assist in making the transition an easy one. It surely will uplift the area."
