THE facilities at the Norman Manley International Airport police station in Kingston, have been significantly improved following its renovation and expansion at a cost of some $23 million.

The work, which was funded by Norman Manley International Airport Limited (NMIA)/Airports Authority of Jamaica (AAJ), included extensive refurbishing of offices, bathrooms, interview rooms, changing rooms for police officers, and a kitchen/canteen, among other areas. The project was undertaken in three phases over approximately 12 months.

The newly refurbished station was symbolically handed over to National Security Minister Peter Bunting and Police Commissioner Owen Ellington by AAJ Chairman/President and NMIA Chief Executive Officer Earl Richards, during a brief ceremony at the airport

last Wednesday.

Bunting said the refurbished station was expected to contribute significantly to enhancing the airport’s overall safety and security, as well as provide an “appropriate” operational environment for the police officers.

“We understand that for an airport to be globally competitive, it needs, not just to be safe and secure, and difficult to traffic contraband through, but it also has to be an enjoyable experience for your clients, your customers, who are the passengers going through,” the minister contended in his remarks.

He urged the officers, under the command of Super-intendent Natalie Burton, to demonstrate a high level of output and professionalism “that will make the NMIA feel that their investment was an excellent one and will encourage them to make further investments”.

“We (National Security Ministry) are very happy to be part of this occasion and we look forward to continued improvement in the

NMIA and, of course, your sister operation, Sangster International Airport (SIA in Montego Bay),” Bunting added.

Commissioner Ellington said the refurbishment was welcomed in light of the airport’s significant growth and expansion over the years, and the emergence of criminal elements who repeatedly attempt to exploit the island’s ports to engage in illicit activities such as narcotics trafficking that “threaten our nation’s security and well-being”.

“That has called for increased involvement of the police, not just in airport security, but seaport security, and the security of other vital installations around our country. We value partnerships and we are, indeed, delighted at the efforts made by the Airports Authority of Jamaica to reconstruct this facility in such a way that it can accommodate our expanded deployment and operations here,” he said.

Ellington assured that the officers at the airport police station were committed to maintaining the facility, while urging them to “ensure that the investment made in building this facility for us is justified with every day of performance that we put in out here”.

“I [also] have the assurance of the commanders here that they will ensure that the men and women deployed here…partner with you (AAJ/NMIA) as we try to make the Norman Manley airport safe, secure, and ready for business at all times,” he said.

In his remarks, Richards said that the police station’s renovation had given the facility a “dramatic transfor-mation”, adding that “the reports that I have…tell me that [the police] team here is reasonably satisfied with the facilities that have been provided”.

The AAJ chairman pointed out that the project’s implementation ensured that one of the most important functions and activities

at the airport, that of security and other functions provided by the police, could be better delivered.

“I think we all know how important…security and law and order are at an international gateway such as the Norman Manley International Airport. The functions performed here are really just one of, maybe, five distinct functions performed by the JCF which operates in other capacities in different parts of the airport. So the work of the JCF at our airport(s) is extremely important and we do appreciate the collaboration and the fact that we are able to achieve, I would think, good results, overall, and good cooperation,” Richards stated.

— JIS