Suffering officers at St. John’s Station await word from Cabinet, as Commissioner details extent of remedial work needed

The Police are awaiting word from the Cabinet on what measures
will be taken to deal with the situation at the St. John’s Police
Station, which Commissioner Atlee Rodney deems to be very
serious.

Officers assigned to particular departments at that station have
already staged three days of a sit-in, which commenced on Monday,
July 17, and continued into Wednesday.

They are protesting the deplorable conditions under which they
have to work, including an infestation of mold in parts of the
building.

Cabinet met on Wednesday, July 19, and Attorney-General Steadroy
“Cutie” Benjamin, who is responsible for the Force, was expected to
take the officers’ grievances to the Executive.

Meanwhile, Commissioner Rodney says the condition of the station
is bad, and it has been the subjection of discussion among the police
hierarchy for some time.

They have been looking at the building and making proposals, he
adds, since the entire compound – which houses other departments
– needs attention.

Rodney notes that renovations undertaken on the western section of
the compound in 2020 improved conditions for officers working in
that section. 

Although it was expected that the work would have been continued
on the eastern section, which houses the guard desk, the Criminal
Records Office, the Prosecution Department, and the Minor Offences
Department, it did not happen. Rather, that section was left to fall
into dilapidation. 

The commissioner says the condition of the station was discussed
last week – before the officers took action; and, last Friday, July 14, it
was decided that a complete tour of the facility would be
undertaken. This, he says, was carried out on Monday, July 17.

What has been completed so far, Commissioner Rodney says, is a
synopsis of the conditions on the compound, as well as a scope of
the work that is needed. Further, a meeting already has been held
with the minister and the permanent secretary in the Ministry of
Works and with the permanent secretary for public safety.

He reports that Minister Benjamin gave assurances that the issue
would be discussed at the Cabinet level; and, based on this, officers
are looking forward to some results and improvements to their
work environment.

The building is seriously dilapidated, infested with termites, and has
serious structural problems. However, Rodney says, as police
officers they must continue to serve in spite of these challenges.
Accordingly, he commends the men and women at the St. John’s
Station for continuing to don their uniforms and going out to
perform their duties. 

In the meantime, Rodney says the Criminal Records Office has been
relocated to a section of the CID Office.

Since the Prosecution Department is responsible for preparing
matters to be taken before the court, another location is being
sought to house those officers – possibly at the Police Headquarters
– to enable them to continue their work.

The Commissioner describes the Newgate Street station as a critical
component of policing, with the bulk of operational duties
performed there.