YESTERDAY, THIS NEWS-PAPER reported the concerns of residents of Sligoville, St. Catherine, and surrounding areas over the demolition of the community's police station.
The officers are still there, actually doing patrols only, as the community centre to which they were relocated became flooded during rainy weather. However, the residents are naturally concerned that a patrol car cannot provide the same service as a police station does and no doubt does not give the same sense of security.
It is this sense of security which is very hard to replace and, no matter how much some persons in the society express dissatisfaction with the police, that we all wish for. We are reminded of the residents' 'protests at the removal of the police station near Maverly in St. Andrew, as well as the concerns of residents of 100 Lane and Park Lane on Red Hills Road, St. Andrew, that the security post in the former not be removed when the memories of the 100 Lane massacre were still fresh.
And it is to the police station that people ran during outbreaks of violence in Spanish Town, St. Catherine.
It is appropriate, therefore, that not only should every effort be made to keep these symbols of security in place, but also that they be kept in a manner which inspires reassurance. The police station in Grants Pen is an indication of what can be done and while we do not expect renovation on such a massive and magnificent scale, good paint and good roofing are a good start.
It may cost more than a patrol car, but it is certainly worth it.
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