The Government says it is one step closer to building a new police station in Port Maria, St. Mary. It says suitable land has been identified.
The matter of a new facility emerged in the news again last week after sewage backed up in a part of the building the police now use. The building used as headquarters for St Mary is rented from the First Regional Cooperative Credit Union and has long been said to be inadequate.
The decision was taken over five years ago to build a new divisional headquarters for the police but even after two ground-breaking ceremonies, construction has not started. The Government says the two previously identified sites were unsuitable. There were soil, drainage or geological problems.
Minister of National Security Dr. Horace Chang, recently toured the 30-acre property recently identified as the new location. It is located near the Port Maria Hospital.
He said that following the completion of the acquisition process and finalisation of designs for the new station, the construction will begin.
“The immediate problem is we need a police station to provide officers with an appropriate place to work from. This site was quite appropriate… we have the funding, and we have the need. We can look at a proper physical layout (and) physical plan and then start building what is to be done immediately,” Dr. Chang told journalists.
He was joined on the tour by Commissioner of Police, Major General Antony Anderson; Mayor of Port Maria, Councillor Richard Creary; and Member of Parliament for Central St. Mary, Dr. Morais Guy. Dr Chang said that the construction process will take place in “a very ordered manner”, allowing for “an ideal town centre” of which the police station is a central part.
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ST MARY SECURITY
Minister of National Security Dr. Horace Chang (left), points out something of interest during a recent tour of the property that has been identified for the construction of the new Port Maria police station in St. Mary. With the Minister are (from left), Senior Superintendent of Police, Calvin Allen; Commissioner of Police, Major General Antony Anderson; and Deputy Commissioner, Kevin Blake.
