EU ambassador says more must be done to improve police stations

Kimmo Matthews

Friday, September 30, 2011

HEAD of the European Union Delegation to Jamaica Ambassador Marco Mazzocchi Alemanni has called for the authorities to do more to improve conditions at police stations across the island.

"While a lot is being done to improve the conditions and operations at police stations, more needs to be done to improve the areas where people are being held," he said.

Mazzocchi Alemanni made the comment during a walk-though of the Hunt's Bay Police Station, one of four stations to be renovated through joint funding by the Ministry of national Security and the $1.4-billion EU Poverty Reduction Programme.

Calls by the EU head has been supported in the past by several human rights groups which have called for necessary measures to be taken to improve conditions at the island's police station, particularly the problem of overcrowding in prisons and police holding cells

Meantime, just over $3 million was spent to renovate the male barracks at the Hunt's Bay Police Station. The work include the replacement of ply doors with raised panel doors; tiling of the floor with porcelain tiles; painting of ceiling, walls, shelves and doors; installation of lattice to make the bedrooms more private; the upgrade of electrical panel and installation of outlets and lighting fixtures; the renovation of bathrooms, including the replacement of toilets.

Yesterday, Ambassador Alemanni was accompanied on the walk-through by National Security Minister Dwight Nelson.

According to Nelson, renovation work will also be carried out at the Allman Town, Cross Roads, Half-Way-Tree and Matilda's Corner Police Stations.

He said enough cannot be said in respect of gratitude to the European Union for the interest, input and contribution made towards improving the facilities and the general conditions overall.

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COMMENTS (8)

Adrian Wright
9/30/2011

@ Will Will. "Are we really an independent country"? is a very good question. And I wouldn't for one minute argue we're on par with industrialized developed countries. What I would argue is that 50 years downstream from being a colony of Great Britain, we still seem unable and/or unwilling to engage in governance that buoys our socio-economic and political structures and institutions. Aid is a good thing in times of disasters and such but seeking handouts at every turn is akin to dependency.

Will Will
9/30/2011

Yes Adrian, the licky-licky mindset is very evident in governance. Are we really an independent country when we can't even afford fireworks for the upcoming 50th year Independence celebration. A roving minister was promised fireworks from an Asian country not so long ago.

Adrian Wright
9/30/2011

Almost 50 years of independence and we haven't weaned ourselves from the likcy-licky mentality which feeds a dependency syndrome thay shutters our pride, dignity and ability to engage in good governance. The eat-a-food minedset has permeated public policymaking and I only feel disgust and shame for the land of my birth. I have no issues with goverment to government contact, but this activity helps to fuel foreign dabbling in Jamaica's domestic affairs. Competence deficit is Jamaica's problem

Will Will
9/30/2011

Our national security minister should be an advocate for lifting the standards within the jails and prisons to meet international level, if only he looks in the mirror and understands the journey from which like people have traveled. Once subjugated, dehumanized and treated as chattels. Please do not act as the masters before you! Its time to make an effort to bring humanity to the dehumanized!

2kool .
9/30/2011

@will will - funds have always been set aside for the purpose of improving police stations but because there is no accountability the funds disappear every year with only a little cosmetic work being done. The Sligoville police dept is without a single vehicle for weeks and yet the minister of security is dragging his feet on providing them with one.

THINKFIRST T
9/30/2011

Why do we have a RUM BAR in the police station?WHY!

Will Will
9/30/2011

Yes, more must be done to improve the nation's lock ups and prisons. Most, if not all, are pre-independence dated, constructed by the British, not for their own kind, but for a conquered people to dehumanize and subjugate even before trial. It puzzles me why the Government has never done much to improve the conditions within the jails and prisons to bring them up to international standards. I do hope change will come soon. This is an excerp from a comment I published recently, With this said, attention must also be paid to our legal system. We have got to have an efficiently working juciary with police stations and lock ups that are on par with western standards. Funding should be sought from countries willing to help.

Carlos Bryson
9/30/2011

Thre is always some foreigners telling Jamaica to do the right thing or putting pressure on Jamaica to do something. Are people in power positions in Jamaica that incompetent and lacking in vision? Disgusting!! Where is our pride?

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EU ambassador says more must be done to improve police stations