Negril Police Station gets $40m upgrade
A SOCIAL intervention pilot project for the parish of Westmoreland is to be rolled out over the next few weeks to help reduce criminal activity. This was disclosed by Minister of Tourism and Entertainment Dr Wykeham McNeill recently during a handover ceremony for the refurbished Negril Police Station.
In his remarks, McNeill stated that the $20 million project is being funded by the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) and will consist of programmes in schools, including sports, job training, mediation, and community outreach. “The Ministry of National Security has put this forward and it is specific to Westmoreland as a pilot project,” McNeill said.
In delivering the keynote address at the handover ceremony, the tourism minister expressed satisfaction with the timely way in which the refurbishing of the station was executed, pointing out that it was on time and under budget. “Of the $50 million budgeted, under $40 million was spent, and this was due to the Project Management Unit of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) providing additional skilled labour, which resulted in this significant savings to the project,” said McNeill.
According to Assistant Commissioner of Police Leon Rose, members of the JCF provided plumbing, painting, carpentry, masonry, tiling, welding, and landscaping services, as well as constructed an ID Parade room. A 304-foot perimetre fence was also installed.
McNeill said that the refurbishing of the Negril Police Station is part of the strategic approach in the collaborative relationship between the Ministries of Tourism and Entertainment and National Security, noting that the halfbillion dollars set aside is a huge support. “Our support is in excess of half-billion out of the Tourism Enhancement Fund, and that is a lot of money in the budget of any ministry and certainly a major part of the budget of the TEF.”
The Ocho Rios Police Station has been refurbished and the Port Antonio Police Station is slated to be the next beneficiary under the TEF-funded programme.
The Minister of National Security, Peter Bunting; Deputy Commissioner of Police George Quallo; president of the Negril Chamber of Commerce Lee Issa; and chairman of the Negril Resort Board Cliff Reynolds also participated in the official handover of the police station.