Hopewell Police Station officially opened
INDIVIDUALS LIVING in the growing residential and economic town of Hopewell, in Hanover, can now breathe a sigh of relief having received an improved police presence in that area through the official opening of the Hopewell Police Station, which had been under construction for more than a year.
Dr Horace Chang, minister of national security, along with several high-ranking police officers, inclusive of outgoing Police Commissioner Major General Antony Anderson; incoming Police Commissioner Dr Kevin Blake; Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of Area 1 Clifford Chambers, and several other officers of various ranks; political representatives, community and business representatives were present in their numbers to witness the long-awaited event.
The station, which was built at a cost of some $25 million, through the efforts of officers from the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) Project Management and Maintenance Division, involved the refurbishing of a building located at the entrance to Pondpiece, in Hopewell, which was leased by the JCF from the Hanover Municipal Corporation (HMC), at the pepper corn rate of $1,000 per year.
Sheridan Samuels, mayor of Lucea and chairman of the HMC, in giving the welcome at the opening ceremony, described the new facility as the result of a collaborative effort between the JCF and the HMC to address a spike in crime, traffic congestion and other social problems, which have been on the increase in the Hopewell area and its surrounding districts.
“This initiative signifies our commitment to enhancing public safety, reducing crime, and improving the overall quality of life for our residents,” he stated.
He argued that he was happy and excited to be a part of what he described as a historic event, which is a significant milestone in the journey towards safety and progress in Hanover.
A “SMART STATION”
Anderson, in his address, noted that the opening of the new police station would be among his final official tasks within the JCF, noting that it (the station) can be described as a “smart station” as it is fully technology equipped.
“This is actually not an ordinary police station. When you go inside you will notice that there is no big book at the front, there are screens and technology, you will see that there are no ticket books here, there are devices, that once we know who you are, we will know a lot about you, whether you have outstanding tickets or warrants, whether that car that you are driving is yours, we will know these things,” he stated.
“This station is perhaps the first station that has on board all of our (JCF) new technologies right away, other stations are in transition as we move from the old to the new, this one has had the opportunity to start off new, with new things, new people, new thoughts, new ideas,” he said.
Making mention that he will be demitting office in a matter of days, Anderson noted that there is continuity within the JCF, while giving the assurance that projects he has started will be continued.
“Whatever was built, we [within the JCF] will continue to build on it. At no point do we want to be thinking about reversing anything, as long as it is beneficial to our customers, our people,” he said.
Chang, in giving the main address, argued that the opening of the police station in Hopewell would ensure that the kind of community policing that is needed in that space is provided.
“This is really a part of the government’s entire commitment to strengthen the police force, to ensure that we can have a police force that is capable of dealing with emerging criminal activity and public disorder,” he stated
He justified the building of the police facility in Hopewell, while describing that town as among the many areas in western Jamaica that have seen significant growth over the past 15 years.
He argued that the increase in investments in western Jamaica, through the many hotels and other businesses which are being constructed, which carries with them the employment of hundreds of persons to work in them, have created the need for increased policing across the western region of the island.
“The population is increasing, the demand for policing, just normal policing, to ensure good order, traffic management, is of course essential and it is an area in which we [in the government] are investing in, in the police infrastructure to ensure they (the police) have quality facilities,” he stated.
While noting that an ongoing examination is taking place of all other police facilities across the island, Chang pointed out that a new facility will be built in Montego Hills, St James, at accost of approximately $6 million, while a new station will also be constructed in Westmoreland.