Latest update December 4th, 2024 2:40 AM
Construction begins on Parfaite Harmonie Police Station
Information reaching this newspaper from the police reveals that an average of five reported cases of burglaries occurring on a daily basis in the ever-growing La Parfaite Harmonie Housing Scheme, West Bank Demerara.
Construction ongoing on the La Parfaite Harmonie Police Station.
After years of repeated complaints, efforts are finally being made to address the security issues being faced by the residents of that community. The building of a much needed Police Station has finally commenced.
Back in November, the Ministry of Public Security opened tenders for the construction of the structure, as well as the procurement of it.
Figures from the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) pinpointed the engineer’s estimate for the project as being $19.3M. It is unclear as to which of the 21 companies that submitted bids for the project, was awarded the contract.
Divisional Commander Leslie James said yesterday that he could only confirm that construction to build the police station has started. Commissioner of Police (ag) David Ramnarine indicated same, adding that he has not yet received the document with all the specifics of the project.
Efforts to contact Public Security Minister, Khemraj Ramjattan, were futile.
The lowest bidder for the project was Mohabir Construction Company, pegging its asking price at $12.7M.
Earlier this month, this newspaper reported on the daily security battles being fought by the residents of La Parfaite Harmonie. Break and enter cases in that area have for years caught the attention of the Guyana Police Force.
The beauty and potential that is that community, has often been tainted by the daily trauma experienced by residents. Most of the people from the neighborhood are unable to even get a good night’s rest, in fear of what they might wake up to find.
Some persons go to bed with the fear of waking up to discover their doors sprawled and their houses empty. There are others who are even more afraid of opening their bedroom doors, only to find perpetrators standing on the other side, in the one place where they were supposed to feel most safe – their homes.
While police did estimate an average of five reported cases of break and enter daily, the unreported cases also account for a figure that is believed to be significantly higher. The rich and poor, the young and old – those who live in zinc houses and those who live in mansions, are all victims.
There have been many reports of persons tied up and beaten for their belongings. Patrons and owners of supermarkets and variety stores have all been attacked.
Just a few months ago, an elderly woman called ‘Aunty Sab,’ who resides on the Westminster main road, had her small wooden shack ransacked and burgled. The perpetrators took all they could get their hands on – the woman’s milk, sugar, teabags, and a small portable CD player. It was all that she had. This, like many of the other heartbreaking incidents, was not reported to the police.
While the police station does come as an answer to the prayers of Parfaite residents, it is not their only concern. Most persons have also been asking for the erection of street lights in the ever expanding scheme.
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