A new fit-for-purpose police station has been unveiled in Buff Bay, Portland.
The station which cost a total sum of $126 million now features a ramp for disabled persons, a server room, interview rooms, barrack rooms, and other amenities.
The project which was funded and managed by the National Housing Trust (NHT), serves as a part of the National Security Ministry’s project ‘Rebuild, Overhaul, and Construct’ (R.O.C) initiative.
The R.O.C initiative was first launched in the fiscal year 2019– 020 by the Minister of National Security and Deputy Prime Minister, Dr Horace Chang.
This initiative, he said, came out of a need to convert all police stations to modern citizen-friendly workspaces, thus providing officers with a comfortable environment that is conducive for work. This ambiance will make it appealing for citizens to willingly and comfortably engage the police.
Chang also noted in his contribution to the Sectoral debate in 2019, that at a cost of approximately $448 million, police stations would undergo major renovations.
The Ministry noted that a sum of $5 billion will be spent to improve the conditions of the facilities of the Jamaica Constabulary Force.
In addition to government funding, the National Housing Trust committed approximately $2 billion to improve the police stations in the communities it operates.
Additionally, the Jamaican Social Investment Fund will be rebuilding and renovating select police stations in other communities at a cost of $1 billion.
