JCF builds construction squadron

John Myers, Gleaner Writer

With much of the police force's physical infrastructure in dire need of urgent upgrade and refurbishment, the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) is positioning itself to undertake the improvement works cheaper and more efficiently with the establishment of its own construction squad.

Police Commissioner Owen Ellington revealed during a Gleaner Editors' Forum last Wednesday that the JCF has reserved about 35 of its members specifically for the set-up of a construction squadron, similar to that of the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) Engineering Regiment, to attend to the police's construction needs.

"We now have our small construction squadron, and they actually worked with the JDF on the construction of the new Falmouth Police Station and several other police facilities around the country," Ellington said.

He noted that the creation of the construction squadron would allow the JCF to better administer funds for infrastructure improvements when the Ministry of National Security transfers such responsibility and allocations as part of the capital budget for the police force.

"The Ministry of National Security has taken a decision to transfer that budget to the JCF as capital budget for us to use and build and maintain infrastructure ... we hope this will be put into effect this coming fiscal year," said the police commissioner.

Cheaper, more efficient

In defending the decision to set aside manpower for the creation of the construction squad, in light of there being a shortage of personnel in several areas of the force, the police chief insisted that "it is the best (decision) because it is not a lot of people; we are talking about 35 people out of an organisation of 15,000".

He added: "It's working out far cheaper, far more efficient (and there is) better accountability. It generates tremendous economic value because we get the work done on time, under budget, and there are certain jobs that we have to do with security implications."

Ellington listed the offices of the JCF's Anti-Corruption Branch, Major Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Task Force (MOCA), and Criminal Investigation Branch as locations where the construction squad has successfully undertaken and completed refurbishments.

"These individuals have done all the work and they have come in the region of 30-40 per cent of what it could be done for commercially," Ellington boasted, adding that "if we are refurbishing the National Intelligence Bureau or the MOCA offices you really don't want to bring in outside contractors to be doing all of those sensitive jobs".

The poor state of stations across the island has been a bane to the men and women of the JCF over the years, so much so that the health department has been forced to close several locations.