Granville Police Station still in limbo

WESTERN BUREAU:

More than four years after fire destroyed the Granville Police Station in St James, there is still no clear picture as to when the promised replacement facility will be constructed.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Roderick Reid, the acting operations officer for St James, told Thursday’s monthly meeting of the St James Municipal Corporation (StJMC) that discussions about the police station are still being held between the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) and the Ministry of National Security.

“There are still some small nuances that are being ironed out between the JCF and the ministry. As soon as we have any sort of update in respect to that facility, you will be so updated,” Reid told the meeting.

Since the devastating May 18, 2021, fire, which resulted in some $20 million in damage, residents of Granville and their councillor, Michael Troupe, have been calling for the rebuilding of the facility, citing the volatile nature of the community and the possibility that criminals could exploit the absence of the police station.

Prior to its destruction, the police station served 7,000 residents in Granville and the neighbouring communities of Pitfour and Retirement. Those areas are currently being policed from the much smaller Irwin police post.

In February 2024, Senior Superintendent of Police Vernon Ellis, the former police commander for St James, said that based on discussions at that time, he expected the replacement Granville Police Station may be completed and functional by 2025.

Following that, on April 11, 2024, National Security Minister Dr Horace Chang announced at that month’s StJMC meeting that construction of the new 50-man police station, on the site of the former station, should begin before the end of the 2024-2025 financial year.

In addition to asking about the station at Thursday’s meeting, Councillor Troupe sought an update into the ongoing investigations surrounding the death of four-year-old Romaine Bowman, who was shot and killed in Granville during an alleged confrontation between gunmen and the police on New Year’s night.

“ ... It is very important that I get an update,” Troupe said to Reid, who told him the matter remains under investigation.

“The matter is still being investigated, and as you will be aware, the external agency, INDECOM (Independent Commission of Investigations) is the agency that is forerunning the investigations,” said Reid. “I am not able to give you any update as it relates to the status of that investigation at this time.”

Reid fielded those questions shortly after informing the StJMC that the parish has recorded nine murders since the start of 2026, with the most recent case seen in Garlands on Tuesday. One suspect was subsequently taken into custody for that offence.

He also also reported that eight illegal firearms have been seized in the St James division since the start of the year.

christopher.thomas@gleanerjm.com