A sum of $1.7 billion was on Thursday approved for the construction and rehabilitation of police stations across the country.
During scrutiny of the budgeted sum by the Committee of Supply, APNU+AFC Member of Parliament Geeta Chandan-Edmond commended the government for the initiative and stated that she had no issue with the allocation. However, she requested an update on the status of some of the police stations already under construction and a “detailed” breakdown on amounts to be spent.
In response, Minister of Home Affairs Robeson Benn highlighted that the sum caters for a number of roll-over projects, which are expected to be completed within the first quarter of this year.
The roll-over projects, he said, include the reconstruction of the Ruimveldt Police Station and the Providence Police Station, pegged at $32 million and $36 million, respectively.
In addition, Benn said the senior officers’ living quarters at Eve-Leary will also be completed at a cost of $11.7 million.
With respect to new projects, Benn explained that there has been an allocation of $405 million for the construction of a new Brickdam Police Station after the previous station was destroyed in a fire in October last year.
Works also scheduled to be done this year include the reconstruction of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Headquarters, at Eve Leary for $28 million and the Special Constabulary Headquarters for $20 million.
“New living quarters will also be built at Eve Leary for $25 million. There will be rehabilitation at Baramita for $20 million, Charity for $36 million, Rose Hall for $20 million, rehabilitation of the Brickdam barracks for $20 million. Tuschen will get a police station for $19 million and Den Amstel [police station] will be rehabilitated,” Benn outlined.
In terms of stations for regional command operations, Benn said that works will be done at Anna Regina, Leonora, Fort Wellington and Wismar.
He added that the Tactical Service Unit (TSU) operational area will also be upgraded at a cost of $40 million.
Benn further related that a number of floating ramps and boathouses will be established or rehabilitated, including at Ruimveldt, in Georgetown, and New Amsterdam, in Berbice.
In recent years, a number of police stations and outposts were constructed or rehabilitated through the Citizens’ Security Strengthening Programme.
