Gareth Davis, Gleaner Writer
PORT ANTONIO, Portland:
THE GOVERNMENT has come under heavy criticism from Daryl Vaz, Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) caretaker for western Portland, who has accused it of neglecting the Buff Bay and Hope Bay police stations, allowing them to fall into disrepair.
Last year, the local division of the Ministry of Health ordered both security facilities closed due to the heavy infestation of roaches, centipedes, rats and other rodents, compounded by leaking roofs and poor sanitary conveniences. As a result, both stations were closed down and the officers transferred to temporary locations where they are currently carrying out policing duties.
However, Mr. Vaz is charging that the Government should, in the meantime, seek to have both buildings rehabilitated, so that the police officers may return to their place of comfort, where they will be able to function more effectively.
"The days of allowing a police station to fall into disrepair can exist no more," Mr. Vaz said. "We cannot allow our policemen and women to be housed and boxed up in temporary locations where there is hardly enough space for them to manoeuvre."
TURNED A BLIND EYE
The JLP caretaker argued that, for more than six months, Government has turned a blind eye to both existing structures while their conditions continued to worsen. He said a maintenance programme should be put in place for all police stations islandwide, to prevent any future loss of such buildings.
It was only last week Tuesday that a local resident, Jeffery Wilson, who is providing a temporary location to the Hope Bay Police, claimed that he was finally able to collect payment in full since leasing the building to the lawmen in November 2005. He said payment was received, but only after threatening them with an eviction notice.
