New police station in Little London opened
KINGSTON, Jamaica — A new police station was officially opened in Little London, Westmoreland on Friday.
The facility was built under the Ministry of National Security’s Project Rebuild, Overhaul and Construct (ROC) initiative, in collaboration with the National Housing Trust (NHT), at a cost of $175 million.
The new building will house the police station and living quarters as well as a new holding facility.
Prime Minister Andrew Holness, who was speaking at the opening ceremony on Friday, noted that while many may question the move to open a new police station in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, he said the facility is more than an investment in security.
“This police station would have been completed in such a timely way that it coincided, unintentionally, with the passage of Hurricane Melissa and the trail of destruction. What should I do as a prime minister? Should I leave it there and not open it? Should I not call the public’s attention to this wonderful development which will be broadened into the service of the people now, not just for their security but also for the recovery process? So that is what we are doing here today,” Holness said.
Westmoreland, St Elizabeth and St James were among the hardest-hit parishes by Category 5 Hurricane Melissa, which made landfall on the island on October 28.
Holness also commended both members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) and the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) for their efforts during and after the passage of Hurricane Melissa.
“Many of the police stations became the centre of activity in the communities that were destroyed. I toured many of them; people gathered to get their internet, gathered to get their phones charged and gathered for safety. That was where many of the distribution hubs were stationed.
“This police station is built for sustainability and resilience. It will have its own backup power. It is built very firmly, and it will be able to serve this community as what we would consider to be a first response and secure area in the event of disaster,” Holness said.
