Prime Minister, Roosevelt Skerrit, has said plans are in place for the construction of a new Police Headquarters to provide better and more adequate residency for police officers who reside in Roseau.
Skerrit said at the 33rd Recruit Graduation and Passing out Parade ceremony recently that Cabinet has made a decision to increase the police force by 100 additional police officers.
“We are putting plans in place for the construction of the new Police Headquarters and also to provide better and more adequate residency for the police officers who reside in Roseau,” he said. “Clearly, that which you have now is certainly unacceptable.”
He said he is personally concerned about the health of the police force.
“We have to be mindful of the ever presence of non communicable diseases in our country and therefore, it is important for us in the police force, to not only engage in training for the recruits or exercise for the recruits. Everyone, from the Chief of Police down, must engage from time-to-time in physical exercise, because that can have a serious impact if we are not mindful of this,” the prime minister advised.
Meantime, he admonished what he described as “a small group” that is not displaying exemplary behavior in the public and otherwise to do do their duty to protect the state and its residents.
“I want to say to you, that your duty is to protect the state and all of us who reside in the state…” Skerrit remarked. “Because your failure to protect us, you are also exposing yourself to that very same threat and your families to that very same threat.”
He added, “And the question is what will happen to you when you are no longer a police officer and you are retired? What kind of Dominica would you like to see? Do you want to see a peaceful Dominica where you can go to the beaches and hot springs as we wish at any time day or night? That is what we want to see in Dominica.”
He told the new officers that their responsibility must, therefore, be taken with great seriousness.
“You cannot exercise your duties based on who it is or what the person is, you have certainly to carry out your mandate in law,” he stated. “You are not above the law; none of us is above the law and therefore we have to carry out our duties in that regard.”
He said police officers only have authority given to them by Acts of Parliament. “Police officers cannot create laws,” he pointed out
Skerrit said his government shall continue to provide the police with all the resources it requires to execute its legal functions.
Hopefully it will have PROPER cells for detainees and prisoners that meet international health codes and jail standards. Them cells in roseau are deplorable and not fit to keep humans, regardless of what they are accused of. A new police station that is up to date is needed since the days of UWP. ONLY now you people see the need? clearly you have never seen a jail cell in your life. You might as well upgrade those accommodations for when is your turn.
Elections must be real near. What next? The new geothermal power plant selling electricity to the French Islands and a brand spanking new International Airport in the River Mouth in Marigot.
A recent picture of the Police HQ would have been better. Why that picture showing the PHQ in the late 1980’s or early 1990’s???
Good observation, by the brand of rides out there, Hillman, Cortina….
Perhaps this is a minority opinion, but I’d rather police not reside at the police station. Given the power they wield, it’s all the more important for them to live amongst those they serve, and not become socially isolated from the common people as they often are in the U.S. — with disastrous results.
But skerrit every time Im on dno it look like you have housing projects going on I which you could just shut up with all your lies I’m sick and tired skerrit must go he and his cabal before country breakdown
Perhaps a few infrastructure upgrades and sandblasting the exterior façade should be looked at prior to performing a full blown new construction project.
Build it quickly so it can house all of the folks STEALING the resources of STATE that are in government.
that picture looking like the 80’s wi boy
Yea wii boi Lol. They could have gotten an updated pic. I seeing Asta in the background there, and the building blue
General elections are imminent, therefore, promises galore from this lethargic, two-faced, stone-blind, Machiavellian government. Any political party, whether it be DLP, UWP, DFP or CCM, after presiding over the country’s affairs for 18 consecutive years and having the country in such a state of decay should not be rewarded with victory at any future election. Look out for the bombardment of hollow and barren promises. Finally, a new police headquarters is a desirable action but the Police Force will continue to be treated with suspicion and disdain until it becomes truly free from the pernicious influence of the banditry of Skerrit and his sycophants.
Why all this promises now. The PM have damage the integrity of the police force in so many ways .By promoting square pegs in round hole. Some of the men and women promoted in khaki cannot hold a court room to prosecute while those doing that they are kept down. When he and the govt believe you are talking against them or not in their favour they push you far. But the men and women are not foolish them are seeing whys happening and I believe this project is just an election campaign like the airports which they would be constructing. Also the recruitment of police is done by parl reps and so on.
Forgive me for getting jaded with all these promises made by Skerrit without providing details. I’m not an ignorant small child that gets can be bought with a party balloon and a jump up.
Everything new except the hospital… priorities!
I remember years ago, when Dominica was leading in Health care in the Caribbean. Now we behind of everybody
He added, “And the question is what will happen to you when you are no longer a police officer and you are retired? What kind of Dominica would you like to see? Do you want to see a peaceful Dominica where you can go to the beaches and hot springs as we wish at any time day or night? That is what we want to see in Dominica.”He told the new officers that their responsibility must, therefore, be taken with great seriousness.“You cannot exercise your duties based on who it is or what the person is, you have certainly to carry out your mandate in law,” he stated. “You are not above the law; none of us is above the law and therefore we have to carry out our duties in that regard.”Sounds like somebody has foresight and or maybe afraid of the unknown. Wasn’t it you who said No law no constitution can……………………….???? now you talk about their Mandate? Where there is contradiction development should follow. Historical materialism teaches us.
Plans in place to build new police headquarters thereby establishing a stronger base in fulfilling the objective of transforming DA into a police state. We already have the largest staffed SINO embassy in the region says PM Skerrit. He said he is personally concerned about the health of the police force.
“We have to be mindful of the ever presence of non communicable diseases in our country and therefore, it is important for us in the police force, to not only engage in training for the recruits or exercise for the recruits. Everyone, from the Blackburn & Chief of Police down, must engage from time-to-time in physical exercise, because that can have a serious impact if we are not mindful of this,” You all will not be able to defend me if you are unfit. In addition things are getting bad real bad economically who knows where and when there could be an uprising greater than that organized and executed by our current recently reappoint president Ayatolla the prime minister…
Another promise lol
Why don’t ya’ll study the more important things first? Like your capital that looks like a third world country… Fix the streets, all these abandoned lots, the abandoned buildings, derelict vehicles etc.. before you go wasting money on something that doesn’t need fixing… How do you people operate? Focus on more important things first… Fix what needs to be fixed, and other things can be improved on later.. if it is even necessary. We still have the hospital, streets, bridges, cruise ship berth that needs to be upgraded.
Here is what PM Roosevelt Skerrit said: “Prime Minister, Roosevelt Skerrit, has said plans are in place for the construction of a new Police Headquarters to provide better and more adequate residency for police officers who reside in Roseau”.
But here is how I interpret and understand what PM said: I understand PM saying that plans are in the way to build a state of the art PRISON in Dominica and the new PRISON will provide lifetime residency for the present Prime Minister. But PM I doubt she and others will be able to reside there. Maybe is a place for you and members of your cabinet alone and NO family members.
I guess the US might also have plans to build a special house for you somewhere in Manhattan.
Good idea. Question: in the same location? Is it going to be …painted or another eye sore like the ministry bldg? Didn’t they recruit about 90 not too long ago, where were they?
Yes an headquater for the police that are there to protect and serve, but also when i get to the beach and hot spring if an accident happen we need an hospital with all it equipement to stay alive ,please for our children an us
Are they expecting a revolution? Everything should be fine just as long as the police force is not militarized under a dictatorship and all peaceful protests are put down in a violent manner, be careful, be very careful as to the reasons.
All of a sudden , Skerrit announcing all kind of new projects! Election is around the corner and here comes the promises
But I want to tell Skerrit that these Jonnny come lately antics will not fool us again.
I am calling on Skerrit to resign now!
Now you going to have me on your back too Roosevelt, when i see wrong , i’ll say so . I’m not going to just blindly support the party .
Is that new Police Headquarters going to be built at the same time that they building your new airport that you have been promising for the last 18 years ?
I am waiting to hear if you will actually promise again during this campaign .
i know you bold face enough to do that you know . All the exerts about your international airport plans would make an interesting magazine .
No money to fix the roads, bridges and hospitals but plenty of money for police headquarters or more to the point headquarters for Skerrits private army. Why are we tolerating this men’s disrespectful behaviour towards the citizens of this country. Consider this, Dominicas population has halved since Erika and Maria but the strength of the police force has increased buy 30%. Does that make sense? Dominicans you need to put your thinking caps on before it is to late. Believe me, it’s 2 minutes before 12!!!
Empty promises for the last 18 years,How stupid are our people,this is the worst condition i have seen @ a police station,yet these so called officers continue to support this so called pm,what a waste of time,but most of them are loyal to him and not the citizens,Dominica will be free from all the corruption one day.