Amelia’s Ward, Linden will soon be home to a new $5 million police station, a project to be undertaken by the Linden Police Station Management Committee (LPSMC).
The LPSMC was dormant for a number of years. However, following a request from Commissioner of Police Henry Greene, the committee was resuscitated. A group of interested Lindeners sit on the committee spearheaded by Officer-in-Charge of Police E&F Divisions, Norman Timmerman.
Chairman is BOSAI’s Lethem Wilson, Vice Chairman Brian McRae, Secretary Jeffrey McAlmont and treasurer Toolsie Lakeram. Other members include representatives of the minibus and taxi associations and representatives of several communities across Region 10.
Since its resuscitation over a month ago, the committee has earmarked the construction of a police station at Amelia’s Ward as one of its primary projects. So far the design and size of the building have been laid out and a plot of land identified for the building.
According to Wilson, they would be working assiduously to have the building started no later than the end of October and all things being equal it should be completed before the end of the year.
Amelia’s Ward was selected because of the rapid housing development taking place there. The area is said to be the largest housing scheme in the Caribbean.
Currently the LPSMC is collaborating with the local regional administration which has committed to seeking the input of the government.
In an address to the group on Wednesday evening, Timmerman said the committee is a very important adjunct of the police force but would not be allowed to usurp the authority of the police force. “Know your duty, stick to those duties and stay within your boundaries,” he told members.
According to Timmerman, E&F Divisions serve residents from Dora on the Linden-Soesdyke Highway all the way to Kwakwani on the Berbice River and the far reaches of Mahdia. He noted that because the area is so large many incidents which require lawful interventions are not reported.
With the committee in place, he said, “we hope to bring the many communities closer to us. We want to address in a decent and lawful manner all criminal activities affecting our people. I am particularly concerned about the rapid growing incidents of domestic violence in our communities.”
He also alluded to the worrying increase in the number of gangs in communities within his jurisdiction and said while they would be working to dissolve existing gangs they would be aiming at nipping the formation of new gangs in the bud. As part of the strategy to deal with this and other issues ranks and members of the LPSMC would be conducting community meetings throughout the region.
In a move to instill moral values and discipline in youths, LPSMC has already formed a scouts group in Linden for children aged 7-18 years. The LPSMC and the scouts group would be officially launched on September 26 and a massive fund raising barbecue at the Banks DIH tarmac in Linden would precede this. LPSMC has established a mail box at the Mackenzie Post Office to accommodate correspondence from residents.
At Wednesday night’s meeting the committee donated in excess of $150,000 to the Fordyce family which was left homeless after a fire completely destroyed its home at Silvertown. LPMSC member Gary Elliot also made a personal donation to the family. Members of the committee also pooled resources on the spot to furnish a 16-year-old with school supplies. (Cathy Richards)
