Royal Saint Lucia Police Force

Sod Turning Ceremony for the New Dennery Police Station:

On Wednesday the 1st of November 2006, about 10:00am, there was a Sod Turning Ceremony to mark the commencement of the new Dennery Police Station. Some of the persons in attendance were; the Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security, Senator Honorable Calixte George, the District Representative for Dennery, Honorable Damian Greaves, Commissioner of Police, Mr Ausbert Regis, Chief Executive Officer of NIPRO, Mr Lancelot Arnold, the parish priest Fr. Amal Raj, Gazetted Officers of the Royal St. Lucia Police Force and community members.

The District Representative, Honorable Damian Greaves, in his remarks indicated that the officers who worked at the Dennery Station have suffered for years, due to poor working conditions. He went on to say that the people of the Dennery Village have queried about the location of the new police station from the village to the Dennery Highway. He reassured them that the station will be better placed there due to the fact that the highway has become very busy and the station being there will serve as a deterrent to persons with the intention of breaking the law. He also emphasized the point that the west is becoming commercialized and the station being placed at that location is thinking ahead.

Minister Greaves noted that the New Dennery Police Station must be one with a difference and thinks that a Special Services Unit (SSU) and a Marine Unit should be established there. The SSU would be responsible for responding to reports of riots at the prisons and the latter will be charged with the responsibility for patrolling the sea, since Dennery is a port where drugs are being trafficked.

The Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security in his remarks said he knows that the officers have worked in deplorable conditions and that the St. Lucia Labour Party Government is devoted to giving the police officers better working conditions.

He went on to say that in fighting crime we need to provide police officers with a good working environment and proper resources to work, otherwise they will be disgruntled. He also hopes that the officers who will be working at the new station will care for it.

Minister George indicated that he hopes police officers appreciate the efforts of the government in making things better for them by upgrading their salaries.

Mr O’Brien Richards who is the Planning and Projects Manager of NIPRO in his address, stated that the ceremony marks the end of preparatory stage of design and planning of the project and the start of the implementation stage.

He thanked the government agencies, person/s and organizations who played a part in the realization of the project.

• The Financiers of the Project - National Insurance Corporation (NIC)

• Project Manager - National Insurance Property Development
and Management Company LTD (NIPRO)

• Architect - Brian Camacho and Associates

• Contractor - R & F Construction Ltd.

District Representative Honorable Damian
Greaves addressing the audience.

Minister of Home Affairs and Internal
Security Senator Honorable Calixte George
Addressing the audience

Honorable Calixte George and
Honorable Damian Greaves turning
over the soil.