THERE SHOULD BE FOUR "brand new" police stations being built around the island within the next six months.

Among them is the long-mooted Belleplaine Civic Centre which will start before the next general election, said Attorney-General and Minister of Home Affairs, Dale Marshall, on Sunday.

Construction under way

He was speaking at a meeting of the Barbados Labour Party's (BLP) St Andrew branch at the Ermie Bourne Centre in Hillaby, where parliamentary representative for St Andrew, George Payne, was nominated unopposed to carry the party's banner in the next general election constitutionally due next year.

Marshall told the supporters the plans had been submitted to the Chief Town Planner and there should be "a response soon".

He added that "three Thursdays ago" Cabinet approved the construction of the Belleplaine centre that would have a police station, a law court, and a post office.

Designs drawn up

The Owen Arthur administration, he noted, was "committed to maintaining, improving, and modernising" police stations across the island. To this end he disclosed that the designs were drawn up for the Wildey and Cane Garden, St Thomas stations.

Construction was under way at the Tamarind Hall Municipal Centre in Horse Hill, in St Joseph, said the parliamentary representative for the rural parish. The centre will feature a new police station, law courts, a post office and a library.

Back in 2005, Government announced plans for the Wildey station, saying there was a need since police stations at Black Rock and District "A" were servicing the needs of about 80 000 people combined. Cane Garden was announced around the same time. (DS)