Progress, but more to do
Seven of nine Portland police stations still below health standards
PORT ANTONIO, Portland — Though repairs have started at the Port Antonio Marin e Police Station, the Portland Health Department still says seven of the parish’s nine police stations are in need of urgent attention.
The parish’s Chief public health Inspector Lorenzo Hume mentioned the Port Antonio Marine Police Station, located at the Errol Flynn Marina, and that was in poor condition, where some repairs have started.
“The marine police, which was in a pretty poor condition prior to renovation, the renovation is still continuing, so we hope that that would improve the [facility]. The police stations need a lot of work. Out of the nine police stations, only two are considered satisfactory,” said Hume.
He was speaking during last Thursday’s monthly meeting of the Portland Municipal Corporation. In November he had highlighted issues at the Manchioneal Police Station and he said there has since been some progress made.
“A commitment was given that, at the Manchioneal Police Station, the issue of the manhole and the sewage cover would have been replaced at the end of December. That was not yet corrected, so we expect by now they should be making some effort now that the [holiday] season is over,” said an optimistic Hume.
However, he again expressed his frustration in making contact with the relevant authorities.
“We had, early last year, met with the hierarchy of the police. But one of the challenges we have with the police is that they have different managers who sometimes move on and new managers come and we have to re-engage again. That does put us off in terms of getting some of the things that have to be done. Likewise, the police generally see it not as their business to fix the facility. It is on to some other entity within the Ministry of National Security, but we hope for improvement this year in the police stations,” Hume reported.
For now, there is a small victory to celebrate.
In a November 2024 the Jamaica Observer highlighted the poor working conditions of officers stationed at the Port Antonio Marine Station. A leaky roof meant cops inside the building would get wet whenever it rained and the living quarters were shoddy.
When the Observer visited the station last Friday, repairs were being done and the law enforcers were happy.
“This is long overdue and will make our working conditions better and more comfortable,” one cop said.
Port Antonio Police Station in Portland
