Gov’t must legally provide housing accommodation for the police Blackmoore says

Blackmoore said gov’t must provide housing for the police. File photo

National Security Minister, Rayburn Blackmoore has said the government has a legal responsibility to provide proper housing accommodations for police officers in Dominica.

Police officers at some police stations on the island have complained over less than comfortable living quarters. On Monday sources revealed to DNO that the Portsmouth Police Station is in a deplorable state and officers are calling for serious attention to be paid to the building.

Blackmoore did not mention that specific situation but told Kairi FM news that the government must provide housing accommodations for the police.

“By law the state has the responsibility to provide proper housing accomodation for police officers,” he stated.

He said the government has been able to demonstrate this by constructing new police stations at La Plaine, Calibishie and before that, Grand Bay.

“As we speak we are also looking at the Delices Police Station and work to be done for the expansion of the police station in Mahaut in order to ensure that we have proper facilities, so that you can have female officers stationed in the Mahaut Police Station,” he noted.

He mentioned that the government has spent almost $1-million in order to refurbish both barracks at Morne Bruce and monies have already been provided for the total rehabilitation of the police training school building.

“We are also placing emphasis on some out stations, and in St Joseph as a matter of fact we shall be spending in excess of $400,000 to construct a new Inspector’s quarters in St Joseph,” he stated.

He stated further that a contractor has been recommended for the award of contract.

He said there has been a holistic approach to ensure that some of the developmental goals that the government is pursuing is done in the most efficient and effective manner.

Meantime Blackmoore pointed out that Police officers are also provided with the opportunity to be trained in various policing subjects overseas.

“We have been able to train police officers overseas in various policing subjects,” he said. “So not only having initial police training at the training school, but we are also ensuring that officers in various departments be it, Criminal Investigations Department, be it special branch, be it SSU are continually trained overseas to ensure that they are kept up to speed in the aspects of policing in order to make them better police officers and to provide better and more efficient service to the people of Dominica.”

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8 Comments

  1. jaded
    March 16, 2017

    I think it is ridiculous that in a small island like Dominica taxpayers have to pay for housing (including meals) for policemen. DA is a small island so policemen can drive to and from work like every other citizen. That was OK back then when DA did not have the network of roads like we have today. In addition everyone now has his own car. Let policemen commute to work!

  2. March 15, 2017

    Mr. Blackmore, please let’s deal with the matter on the order paper. Don’t digress, tell us about plans for the deteriorating Portsmouth Police Station.

  3. ” government has a legal responsibility to provide proper housing accommodations for police officers in Dominica.”

    Blackmoore, it is my understanding that the English language in Dominica defers to Cambridge English which we inherited from the British. My English interpretation of that crap in the quote tells me that you are not talking about the responsibility of the government providing sanitary conditions in their work place, which are supposed to be the place where they work such as the buildings called police station, in America called prescient, or Divisions!

    When you say ” government has a legal responsibility to provide proper housing accommodations for police officers in Dominica.” To me that denotes government is responsible for providing every police officer with a free personal house. That is what your rhetoric implies!

    If you are talking about police stations, be specific, and stop talking crap!

    • The Darkness
      March 15, 2017

      …For once, thank you! :-D :lol:

  4. Hope
    March 15, 2017

    Are you serious no mention of Portsmouth Police Station. You did not say what you will be doing to remove the Officers in this state, that’s what we want to hear. Your talk do not mean anything without solving Portsmouth problem.
    The Officers in Portsmouth deserve better treatment . And you want them to function effectively, come on.

  5. Anthony Ismael
    March 15, 2017

    You’re such a Labor spin doctor. This was not the subject of the article. It’s great that other policing areas are receiving attention, however officers in Portsmouth are using a “Pail” to catch water while the boys are riding Camels in Dubai. There is something wrong with that picture. This is where and how our law men and women must function in a place of work, while the boys continue to buy every new SUV on the island, build house after house and globe-travel. You guys are a complete joke. They should stage a walk out in Portsmouth.

  6. CONSCIOUS
    March 15, 2017

    I must say there was not anything mention of the police station in Portsmouth. What was the purpose of the statement when the issue at hand

    • Anthony Ismael
      March 15, 2017

      To spin the story.

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