Stephanie Coleman, Gleaner Writer
The Cave Valley Police Station, St. Ann, taken on July 27, 2004. G2K conducted an audit of Jamaica's police stations, and this station was found to be in need of new buildings. The findings were presented at a G2K press conference in Kingston, yesterday. - IAN ALLEN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
GENERATION 2000 (G2K), an affiliate of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), is insisting that Government regard repairing and upgrading of the nation's police stations as a major priority.
At a press conference at the party's Belmont Road headquarters yesterday, G2K executives claimed that 120 or 70 per cent of the country's 172 police stations were in need of urgent repairs.
The review, conducted by G2K policy unit, concluded that 14 of the worst stations in the Corporate Area were located in volatile communities such as the Trench Town, Vineyard Town, Franklyn Town and Gordon Town. Stations in need of repair also include August Town which serves the crime plagued areas of Bryce Hill, Angola, Jungle Twelve and Bedward Pastures. Police stations in Bath, Cave Valley, Alexandria, Falmouth and Port Maria, G2K said, will require new buildings.
G2K vice-president, Warren Newby cited repeated instances of leaking roofs, poor sanitary facilities, and inadequate furniture and office equipment like computers, photocopiers and digital cameras.
Meantime, G2K applauds government's decision to centralise the operations of the police at relocated offices at the intersection of Duke and North streets in downtown Kingston. However, Mr. Newby said that was not enough to tackle the national crime problem,
"We welcome the amalgamation of all the offices there. Our opinion is that you must strengthen the framework in the areas where the crimes are being committed," Mr. Newby said.
In response to G2K's concerns about poor state of police stations, Neville Graham, public relations officer for the national security ministry, said there was an ongoing programme for repairing police stations that have been damaged by hurricanes. Mr. Graham asserted that the ministry was constantly assessing the stations and has been conducting interventions when necessary. He cited the Central Police Station in Kingston, the Santa Cruz and Black River Police stations in St. Elizabeth as prime examples of police initiative.
