14 ratty police stations to receive $200m fix - Chang warns he’ll cancel contracts for poor work
Published:Thursday | September 12, 2019 | 12:16 AMJason Cross/Gleaner Writer
Eight contractors received deals yesterday to refurbish 14 police stations across the island in the second phase of the Government’s solution for the deplorable conditions under which law-enforcement personnel currently work.
The projects, which include the Kingston Central, Tivoli Gardens, and Allman Town Police stations in Kingston, are to take place under the rebuild, overhaul, and construct initiative.
Present to sign off on the deals worth more than $195 million, at the Ministry of National Security in St Andrew, were National Security Minister Dr Horace Chang, Police Commissioner Major General Antony Anderson, and the eight contractors.
The Government is spending $5 billion to improve 149 of 186 police stations islandwide.
According to data provided by the National Security Ministry, five stations have been fitted with improved facilities. The five stations are Spring Hill in Portland, Hayes in Clarendon, Trench Town and Mountain View in Kingston, and Sandy Bay in Hanover. The ministry said also that 25 stations were under refurbishment, with six close to completion. The ministry awaits a decision from the procurement process for another 16 stations.
“Some stations are infested with rats. There are also leaking roofs and pipes all over,” Chang said.
“I appeal to the contractors to do the work well,” said Chang, noting that he would seek to ensure that contracts are paid on time but that there had to be quality work.
“I have a list of contractors, and if the work is not being done properly, I have no apologies. I will ask for the work to be cancelled,” the minister warned.
Chang explained that a maintenance system would be established so that “officers responsible can monitor what is happening”.
He assured contractors that if they required a top-up in funds, “then you have engineers who can make appropriate recommendations in writing and with logic”, implying that there should be no excuse for delays.
“We cannot treat our officers like this. There is absolutely no reason any policeman should work in a station that is leaking and is without a proper toilet or chair to sit on. We cannot give them basket to carry water. Attrition is high and motivation low because facilities are deplorable. We are correcting that.”