West End Police Station Officially Re-Opens

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RVIPF

(PLTM) - A newly refurbished West End Police Station was officially re-opened on Thursday, August 15.

The station was damaged extensively during hurricane’s Irma and Maria in 2017. The refurbishing of the WEPS was done by Quality Construction Limited and will also house officers of Her Majesty’s Customs and Immigration Department.

In his address to the eager audience, His Excellency the Governor Augustus Jaspert praised and thanked the RVIPF officers for their dedication and commitment during the hardest days after the hurricanes and continuing to police the community since then despite the challenges of the damaged infrastructure.

He was delighted that the repaired Station would be open for its first shift from midnight that night. He also stated in his remarks, “the first responsibility of any Government is the safety and security of its citizens. Good governance, the rule of law and feeling safe and secure allows communities to flourish, businesses to develop and children and young people to be educated and grow up seizing positive opportunities.”

With the RVIPF estate sustaining significant damage during the 2017 hurricanes, securing the reconstruction of police stations has been a priority for the Governor. The Governor was extremely grateful for the donation from the Government of the United Kingdom to fund the repairs to the West End Police Station.

The Station was repaired with UK funds (part of approx. $1.5m of UK funds secured by the Office of the Governor to repair RVIPF stations across the Territory) and the rehabilitated station is an excellent example of the role that the Governor plays in ensuring that the UK listens to & supports the priorities of the Territory & its people and that there is a close partnership between the UK and the Government of the Virgin Islands in addressing those priorities.

In his remarks, The Premier, Honorable Andrew Fahie, reflected on the importance of the West End Police Station after the hurricanes. He recalled how the station was the main hub for distribution of goods to the West End community. He commended the officers that worked through the hurricane and stayed after in deplorable conditions to execute their duties.

“And the police officers were more than accommodating. I remember they were sleeping in here at one time but when it rained water was getting so high that they even stayed there through the rain to guard the food without any roof on the building and even when we put on a temporary roof for the building it was still leaking,” Premier Fahie said.

He gave encouragement to the officers to continue doing the great work that they have already started. “During the storm the community Policing was very strong. The Police were out, they were by the homes. They didn’t see them as Police Officers, they saw them as an extension of the community.”

He also expressed thanks to the UK for the grant given to repair the West End Police Station and encouraged the community to continue to work ‘hand in glove’ with the law enforcement agencies because the VI is ours.

Commissioner Matthews expressed the privilege to be standing with the most senior leadership of the BVI.

He recalled what the officers had to endure after the hurricanes especially before the support from the UK Soldiers and Officers and Officers from the OT’s arrived. He touched on the fact that most of the officers lost all their kits and uniform during the hurricanes and this could have been why some people could have said his officers were never seen in the aftermath of the storms.

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RVIPF

He recalled when he first visited the West End Police Station and observed a young officer who was performing his duties without any boots on his feet because he had lost everything, “But he hadn’t lost his ability to police and he hadn’t deserted his post,” COP Matthews recounted. He expressed the pride that he felt knowing that even after losing everything the Officers still executed their duties because that is what Policing is about.

Reflecting on the plan to share the space with her Majesty’s Customs and Immigration Department and its importance, COP said “And this building now symbolises another stake in the ground in terms of the journey to ensure that we have effective, efficient criminal justice working in the territory, working for the safety and security of people in this territory.”

He further stated that the West End Community must be elated to see that there is an operational station back in their district. The Cane Garden Bay Police Station will also remain open to ensure that there is adequate support for the entire western end of the Island. He concluded by saying that while a solid infrastructure is needed we must not forget what we went through and where we came from.

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