New police substation inaugurated on Faber’s Road
It may have fit conveniently into the government’s campaign for re-election, but politics aside, residents of one Belize City neighbourhood may sleep better tonight thanks to an increased police presence. News 5’s Marion Ali reports.
Marion Ali, Reporting
If you’ve travelled Faber’s Road Extension, then you cannot miss the bright yellow and green bungalow. The building is the newest police substation, opened this morning by Prime Minister Said Musa. According to the P.M., the facility is only a small representation of infrastructural improvements over the last five years, but with much more still to come.
Prime Minister Said Musa
“You will see at least five hundred more police officers recruited to the Police Department, creating more jobs for our people, strengthening law and order. You will see soon the new one hundred vehicles for the Police Department; they need it and they will get it. You will see soon the establishment of a completed forensic laboratory so that DNA can be carried out and get better evidential value in our cases.”
Meanwhile, P.U.P. standard-bearer, Dolores Balderamos Garcia, says the substation will offer some sense of security for residents in the area:
Dolores Balderamos Garcia, P.U.P. Candidate, Port Loyola
“Many a times you hear people calling from Faber’s Road and there’s no police presence. And also you just go down to the boulevard and you can go right over to the Jane Usher Boulevard area, so I think that it’s very well needed.”
And according to Police Commissioner, Carmen Zetina, the facility will be fully functional.
Carmen Zetina, Police Commissioner
“We’re starting off with a three man team per shift. There’s a future expansion to it. At this time we can only afford three, but with two intakes, well we have one intake now and another coming in on Sunday, we will certainly increase the strength.
“What we intend to do is have policemen patrolling on bicycles around the Faber’s Road and its environs, Neal Pen Road. We’ll put an area of patrol for them.”
The new facility has two holding cells for male and female detainees and is equipped with direct communication to the Racoon Street police station. Marion Ali for News 5.
