By Robyn Adderley/Bahamas Information Services
Minister of National Security, the Hon. Wayne Munroe was taken on a tour the police stations on the island by Commissioner of Police, Paul Rolle as well as other senior officers of the Royal Bahamas Police Force during the Minister’s first official visit to the island. Minister Munroe arrived on Monday morning and started with breakfast at Police Headquarters followed by a tour of the Lucaya Police Station and then a courtesy call on the Minister for Grand Bahama, the Hon. Ginger Moxey.
The National Security Minister was accompanied by Permanent Secretary Cheryl Darville and Deputy Permanent Secretary Delgardo Forbes. Min. Moxey welcomed the Minister and the Commissioner of Police and noted that she was pleased with the joint venture with the Police and other private partners, at Peel Street and Tripp Circle where the former police houses will be renovated. There are 13 homes in Tripp Circle. Some of them will be used for retired officers who have nowhere else to go and some will be used as halfway homes for residents currently occupying dilapidated buildings.
Minister Munroe says there are some issues that need to be addressed for officers in Grand Bahama, and there are some instances where it is better to replace the equipment rather than repair. Asked about a shortage of manpower, Commissioner Rolle said there are about 60 recruits in Grand Bahama and there will be others coming to be trained. There will be 40 officers coming from Turks and Caicos, 20 officers and 20 for the fire division.
Additionally, more vehicles will arrive shortly. There are 50 vehicles on their way to Grand Bahama to add to the SUVs sent late last year.
“There is a challenge everywhere and until Bahamian people start to behave themselves more, we are going to have to need more and more officers. Hopefully in Grand Bahama, you can start to behave quicker than we do in New Providence so you won’t need us to send up as many officers, but in the meantime, we will recruit who we need to recruit.” Minister Moxey commented on the joint initiative, which she said is a short-term situation.
“The families will be there for about six months. We are trying to develop a holistic approach to impacting lives. We are assisting them through other corporate companies to finding jobs, some of the families have kids and we will help them get organized to get in school, and to really find a way to not just feed them for a day but to cause them to be able to develop the skills they need and be in a programme that allows them to move on from there and improve their lives.
The Minister for Grand Bahama then accompanied Minister Munroe to view the development of downtown Freeport, houses in Tripp Circle and on Peel Street, the K-9 Unit on Peel Street, the Police Training College, the West End Police Station as well as the one in Eight Mile Rock, ending with a tour at the Fire Station.
More photo highlights below:
