MALVERN, St Elizabeth – Two years after Hurricane Dean devastated the historic building housing the police station and courthouse in Malvern, work has started on a replacement structure just adjacent.

Last week staff employed to contractors Mustang Construction & Engineering used heavy equipment to compact the base on which the pre-fabricated building would be installed.

On Friday, the Observer tried unsuccessfully to get official word on the project’s cost and duration. A Government source said, however, it was likely to cost about $8.5 million, and was expected to be ready for occupation by the end of November.

Robert Rainford, permanent secretary in the Ministry of Justice, said the new building would house a police station and court facilities.

“The Ministry of Justice has signed a memorandum of understanding with the national security ministry to construct the courthouse above the police station.

“The ministry of justice will then reimburse the security ministry when the construction is completed,” the relayed message from Rainford to the Observer said.

Since the 118-year-old stone/brick building was devastated by the hurricane in August 2007, the Malvern Police have had to operate from a small single-room building traditionally used for sittings of the Petty Sessions Court. The police have had to vacate their cramped quarters for hours at a time, not only to make way for Petty Sessions court, but also on days when the resident magistrate visits Malvern for sittings.

In the context of the wider Jamaica, Malvern and its adjoining communities, with a high school/college population inclusive of Bethlehem College, Hampton School and Munro College, has a very low incidence of serious crime. But over the last 12 to 18 months there has been a spike in break-ins and gun-related crimes along the road corridor from Gutters on St Elizabeth’s eastern border with Manchester, through Nain, Junction and Malvern in South East St Elizabeth to the main commercial town of Santa Cruz at the geographical centre of the parish.

The St Elizabeth police believe that a string of successes in recent weeks – not least the killing of a feared gang leader in Nain – has effectively reversed the spike in criminal activity.

Last week the chief of police in St Elizabeth, Superintendent Merrick Watson, who took up position in recent weeks, welcomed the new project in Malvern.

“We are talking about a very large area between Santa Cruz and Junction, which, while it is not a high crime area has a lot of people residing there including many returning residents. They require the constant presence of the police as a deterrent. So clearly there has to be a police station, properly structured and staffed, up and running,” said Watson.

There was a good feeling among police personnel in Malvern last week as they looked forward to more spacious working conditions. “This new building is long overdue,” said Sergeant Joseph Wilson, who is in charge of the station.

While thankful for the new facilities, there was concern among residents about what will happen to the hurricane-devastated structure – among the oldest in the community. Many feel it should be restored for its historic value. The roof and much of the second floor wall of the two-storey building was removed by Hurricane Dean, and there is fear that the rest of the building will collapse with any other similar natural disaster.

Checks with the National Heritage Trust on Friday revealed that the old building was not on its list of “declared” sites. However, it had been placed on a list of “potential” sites that could be declared for protection and restoration in the future.

Among those who will never forget the night the Malvern police station and courthouse collapsed is barber Cleon Fagan. He was sleeping in his shop next door as Dean raged. He woke to find himself buried from toe to chest under rubble, including bricks and large stones from the neighbouring second floor which housed the courthouse. He managed to dig himself out with a piece of steel and escaped with severe bruising and cuts.