Chang pitches new maintenance system for police stations

National Security Minister Dr Horace Chang says that the Government is considering a new maintenance system to ensure proper upkeep of police departments in the western end of the island.

Chang made the announcement yesterday while touring several police stations in need of repair across St James, Hanover, and Westmoreland, including the Area One headquarters in St James.

“We are now seeking to introduce a system where police stations are monitored and are kept in proper condition. We are looking at introducing a facility-maintenance system to ensure that the officers themselves can have a system they can monitor and see what is taking place at their relevant stations,” said Chang.

“The police commissioner (Major General Antony Anderson) and I are now looking at it, and we expect to have a proper fleet-management system put in place so that we will speedily know what the conditions are,” the minister added.

While he could not give a monetary figure for the proposed project at this time, Chang said renovations would be carried out soon at a number of police stations within Area One, which covers Trelawny, St James, Hanover, and Westmoreland.

Yesterday’s tour was hosted by Area One’s Assistant Commissioner of Police Donovan Graham and Superintendent Vernon Ellis, the commanding officer in charge of St James. It follows a recent announcement by Prime Minister Andrew Holness that several police stations across Jamaica would be included in a renovation project.

Last September, Chang committed to the restoration of 200 police stations islandwide, which are currently in a state of disrepair. Additionally, divisional headquarters are to be built in Port Antonio, Port Maria, Savanna-la-Mar, and Spanish Town.