Sod Tuning Ceremony for the new Richfond Police Station

On Friday the 3rd of November 2006, about 10:00am, there was a Sod Turning Ceremony to mark the commencement of the new Richfond Police Station. Some of the persons in attendance were; the Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security, Senator Honorable Calixte George, 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 Commissioner of Police in his remarks said that the commencement of the new police station brings joy to him. He went on to say that the new location will be beneficial to everyone especially the people of the Maboya valley. He commended the officers at the La Caye Police Station for working in deplorable conditions for such a long time. He also went on to thank the Government of St. Lucia for continuing to support the Royal St. Lucia Police Force and for building the new station.

He encouraged the men and women who will be working at the new station to work to the best of their ability and also indicated that he hopes he would soon be able to see a brand new police headquarters.

The Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security in his remarks stated that the location of the new station is more centralized. He indicated that there are more facilities and houses in that location; therefore there will be easier access to the communities.

He encouraged the officers who will be attached to the station to work with community members and even start up a youth group or a drug free club if that has not been established.

He also stated that the Richfond and Dennery police officers should work together to provide a better service to the communities and encouraged police officers on the whole to increase their knowledge in the field of policing. Minister George encouraged the officers who are trained in special areas to pass on their knowledge to other police officers.

He ended by thanking NIPRO for allowing the government to use the boxing plant for the building of the new station.

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 also thanked NLBA and Inter Island Architects for allowing them to use the design that was used for the Marchand Police Station.

He finally 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 - Newel Lewis Broadbridge and Associates

• Contractor -Charles & Jules Construction Ltd.
.

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

Honorable Calixte George and Commissioner of Police Mr. Ausbert Regis turning over the soil.