BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE efficiency of frontline-customer service offered at the Basseterre Police Station is expected to see considerable improvement by the end of this month, which is the approximate deadline for ongoing renovations there.
Late last year, work began on the guardroom and recreation guard room of the Headquarters with a view to providing better working conditions for officers stationed there and also a better environment in which members of the public can conduct business with the police.
During a recent press conference held by the High Command of the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Stafford Liburd gave an update on the renovation process and indicated that renovations to that area would be completed within the next three weeks.
Underscoring the importance of the improvement of the rooms in the frontal portion of the building, Liburd said, “We notice the front is what is attracting person and so we are working feverishly on the physical front.”
The process, Liburd told SKNVibes, began in early December and a pause to accommodate the hassles of the Christmas/Carnival season was taken. In January of this year, the process continued and within three weeks it is expected to be completed, he explained.
The overhaul of the guardroom and recreation room is just one part of ongoing improvements to the Basseterre Police Station and it is expected to continue shortly.
“We have had work going on and improvement in the offices and other areas in the station. We will improve certain areas, certain barrack rooms...There are some improvements that took place before that started since last year in June in the barrack room and the offices, but we’re going to go inside to just finish off some areas...We will improve in terms of the kitchenette area...That project will not be done until another two months from now.”
Attached to the completion of the renovations are expectations of improved customer service.
“I expect that when renovations are completed there will be improvement for workers, that is police officers; customers, that is the general public and also for would-be prisoners. It should improve an area of policing. There are other areas which we have to work on. I am saying the expectation is that police officers would be more efficient in the execution of their duties. Not everybody that comes to the station comes to report of criminal activity but to conduct business such as immigration matters.”
When asked about the cost associated with the renovations, the DCP told this media house that it is “premature to give a cost when the project is not completed. What I can say however, is value for money is being delivered in the project”.
