Fed up with termite infestation, Accounts staff give police brass an ultimatum; department to be moved to Dredge Bay
The Acounts Department staff at Police Headquarters on the American Road reportedly will
be transferred to the Dredge Bay building now housing personnel from the St. John’s Police
Station.
Inside sources claim the seven civilian employees gave their administrative boss – Deputy
Commissioner Everton Jeffers – an ultimatum: That they would down tools if their working
conditions were not immediately addressed and corrected.
The sources report that the staff’s problems stem from a severe termite infestation
affecting the middle floor of the Headquarters building.
It is said that the employees complained to Jeffers that the wooden cabinets in their office
are heavily infested, and working in such conditions had become unbearable.
It is alleged that, upon returning home from work, they would find their clothing and bags
filled with termite dust and, in some instances, the live parasites.
Their ultimatum to Deputy Commissioner Jeffers reportedly prompted immediate action.
The insiders claim that he contacted the Public Works Department, which allegedly agreed
to renovate a section of the Dredge Bay building to accommodate the Accounts staff.
Ironically, the top floor of the Headquarters building was completed only recently and is
now occupied by the Police high command and other administrative offices.
But since their move, the sources claim, the second floor from which the Accounts
Department staff function has been neglected and is in a state of disrepair.
Meanwhile, public criticism of the Gaston Browne Administration continues to mount, as
the Newgate Street Police Station appears to be sliding into dereliction. Parts of the
landmark building have been gutted and are now boarded up, while vegetation is growing
on and around the structure.
The renovation project was begun months ago but apparently has stalled, with no
explanation or apology from Public Safety Minister Steadroy “Cutie” Benjamin.
Critics in the business community say that, at a time like this, when gun crimes are on an
alarming increase, the absence of a police station in the city is sending an all-clear message
to the criminals.
In fact, only two days ago, a police officer was disarmed by a gun-toting bandit who was
holding up a Chinese business place. Reports say it was the fourth time that the business
had been robbed.
Then yesterday, August 14, another daylight hold-up allegedly took place at a popular
bakery on the All Saints Road, while STRATCOM reported an armed robbery at a DeSouza
Road supermarket.
These offenses followed the Carnival Tuesday shooting of three males at Shanty Town,
where one man, Kergus Martin, was killed. His teenaged son, Malachi, ultimately
succumbed to his injuries yesterday morning, August 14, after a stay in the Intensive Care
Unit.
The third man remains hospitalized in stable condition, the Police say.
No one has been arrested in connection with these shootings.
