November 25, 2016:
The following is the opening remarks by the Honourable Randall Mitchell, M.P., Minister of Housing and Urban Development at the Formal Opening of the St. Joseph Police Station on Friday 25th November, 2016.
- Dr. the Honourable Keith Rowley, Prime Minister of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
- My Cabinet Colleagues –The Honourable Terrence Deyalsingh, Member of Parliament for the St. Joseph and Minister of Health, The Honourable Retired Major General Edmund Dillon, Minister of National Security
- Other Cabinet Colleagues and Members of Government
- Permanent Secretaries
- Mr. Stephen Williams, Acting Commissioner of Police
- Other Members of the Executive of the Police Service
- Mr. Edwin Gooding, Chairman of the Tunapuna/Piarco Regional Corporation
- Mr. Noel Garcia, Chairman of UDeCOTT and other members of the Board
- Ms. Margaret Chow, Chief Executive Officer, UDeCOTT
- Members of the Community of St. Joseph
- All other Specially Invited Guests
- Members of the Media
Good morning to you all!
It is indeed an honour to welcome you to the Official Handover of the St Joseph Police Station – the first to be handed over in Phase 2 of the Police Station Construction Programme, as project managed by UDeCOTT. Two other Police Stations will also be handed over very soon – they are Besson Street Port of Spain and Maracas St Joseph.
Much thanks to the hard-working UDeCOTT Team – headed by its Chairman, Mr. Noel Garcia, Members of the Board, Management and Staff.
As Line Minister for UDeCOTT, I am aware of the in-depth planning and scope development which went into this crime fighting asset. There is no doubt that this fully equipped facility is a necessity especially given the trajectory of developmental growth along the East West Corridor. Features at this and the other new stations are modern and the application of global best practices were well enshrined in their development. While the stations may vary in built and parking areas, they comprise some common and unique functional aspects. Spaces that are common to each station include public reception lobbies, private statement rooms, hi-tech armoury, fingerprinting rooms, victim recovery rooms, library with multi-media facilities and internet access, offices for officers, dormitories, gyms, community rooms and kitchens, among others. Typically there are three adult cells and two juvenile holding rooms, to ensure that young offenders are kept separate from adult offenders/suspects. Cells and Processing Areas for offenders are accessed via separate, secured vehicle areas and standard sally ports.
These new police stations are equipped with ID Parade with one-way vision glass and sound proof, with intercoms for communicating with persons on parade. There are separate entry and exit points to holding rooms for persons entering the ID Parade, to facilitate isolation so there is no collusion and also for the protection of witnesses. Viewing Rooms also enable confidentiality when interviews are being conducted in Statement Rooms, as there is one-way glass for observing/monitoring interviews, with the space being sound proof with a camera.
To ensure that police officers are efficiently trained and equipped to enable functionality at the highest calibre, the stations have been provided with in-house lecture rooms, library, and gymnasium stacked with the latest equipment and impact resistant flooring, together with appropriate dormitories for male and female officers, laundry room, prayer room and a private office for counselling. There is also a First Aid Room in the event officers are injured while in the line of duty.
In keeping with the policy of the TTPS to involve community members in the prevention of and combating crime, stations have been equipped with a large community meeting room where residents can meet to voice their opinions and collectively seek accountability to improve their living conditions. Additionally, stations are designed to facilitate accessibility to our differently abled residents and visitors – This Government is seeking to provide proper services to all – Ladies and Gentlemen.
The needs of victims have been taken into account, and police stations have been designed to also have secured Victim Recovery Rooms. Traffic Offices have also been included. Each police station is highly secured and sturdy to counter and resist human and or natural threat and serve the community for years to come. These structures have been constructed with reinforced concrete that can withstand seismic impact events (earthquakes), and the effects of floods and hurricanes.
In case of emergencies, the police station is equipped with a generator and potable water storage to sustain the station independently for 3 days. All the stations have been designed with fire detection and suppression systems and 24 hour surveillance camera systems. These new stations are also energy efficient and will incorporate the use of solar powered water heaters as part of the green building initiative of the Ministry of National Security.
As a Government, we hold firm to the notion that modern technology and equipment coupled with well-trained human resources are critical to our crime fighting efforts. This stellar facility we have delivered is second to none and will serve to stimulate greater camaraderie and cooperation between our officers and the public which they have vowed to serve and protect.
Ladies and Gentlemen - I thank you!
END
For further information, please contact:
Manager, Corporate Communications
Ministry of Housing and Urban Development
Tel: (868) 623-4663 ext 2168