Minister of National Security St Clair Leacock on Monday expressed deep concern and outrage regarding the current state of several police stations across St Vincent (SVG).
Speaking on Boom FM 106.9 OMG show, he described the living conditions in several stations as dire, citing specific examples of dilapidation and neglect that he believes public health officials should have condemned long ago.
Leacock highlighted the following specific conditions and issues:
Calliaqua Police Station: He described this building as “not fit for habitation” and stated that public health should have written it off a long time ago. His immediate solution is to move the police into the neighboring Calliaqua Town Hall while a capital project is launched to rebuild the station.
Central Police Station: Leacock characterized this facility as a public health hazard where officers “share the beds with the pigeons” and rats are present, reportedly “watching the face” of officers. He also noted broken furniture, describing bed posts that go all the way to the floor.
Layou and “Lago Height”: He recounted finding a female officer, a musician in the police band, sleeping on the floor on a mattress that “Salvation Army would not give to anybody else”,. She explained that beds had been removed three years prior for use at the training school. Additionally, he was appalled to find a female bathroom in Layou without a toilet seat, declaring that everyone from the Commissioner to the former Prime Minister should share the blame for such indignities.
Barrouallie: Leacock noted that this station is a historic building, 200 years old, with challenging architecture. The government intends to restore and rebuild it rather than just painting it, aiming to improve quarters within a few weeks,.
Stubbs: He observed that the Stubbs station is a rented house off the main road, and while its condition is better than Calliaqua, the government is ensuring tax money is spent wisely on its construction and maintenance,.
Beyond the buildings, Leacock emphasized that officers are suffering from a lack of basic necessities and proper equipment.
He noted complaints about shoes that cause foot issues and belts that cause back pain. Leacock argued that addressing these basic needs is critical for morale and that officers are relieved to finally have a minister interacting with them and listening to these fundamental grievances